Travelers eyeing Vancouver Island’s rugged northeast coast will soon have a new way to get there. WestJet has announced a non-stop seasonal route between Calgary and Campbell River, operated by De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft, promising daily service that links the airline’s Alberta hub with one of British Columbia’s fastest-growing outdoor tourism gateways.
New Daily Link Between Calgary and Campbell River
Beginning May 15, 2026, WestJet will introduce non-stop service between Calgary International Airport and Campbell River Airport, in northern Vancouver Island. The seasonal route is scheduled to operate daily and will be flown by the 78-seat Dash 8-400, commonly referred to by travelers as the Q400. The flight is part of a broader domestic expansion aimed at strengthening east-west connectivity and giving regional communities direct access to WestJet’s main hub in Calgary.
The new route significantly shortens travel times for passengers who previously relied on connections through Vancouver or a mix of air and road travel to reach Campbell River. By bypassing a major hub connection, the direct link is expected to be popular with leisure travelers, business passengers and resource-sector workers shuttling between Alberta and coastal British Columbia.
For WestJet, Campbell River joins a slate of new point-to-point domestic routes launching in summer 2026, including additional connections from Calgary to North Bay and Sault Ste. Marie in Ontario, and a new Edmonton to Terrace service in northern British Columbia. Together, these flights underscore the airline’s strategy of concentrating domestic growth around Calgary while building out thinner regional routes with turboprop aircraft.
What Travelers Can Expect Onboard the Dash 8-400
The Calgary to Campbell River flight will be operated by WestJet Encore using the De Havilland Dash 8-400, a high-speed turboprop known for its short takeoff capabilities and efficiency on regional sectors. While not a jet, the Dash 8-400 typically cruises at around 660 to 670 kilometers per hour, keeping flight times competitive on short-haul routes across Western Canada. The aircraft’s performance is particularly well-suited to airports like Campbell River, which serve smaller communities with limited runway infrastructure.
Cabin layout on WestJet Encore’s Dash 8-400s is all-economy in a 2-2 configuration, meaning there is no middle seat. That will appeal to travelers who value window or aisle options without sacrificing proximity or comfort. Overhead bin space is modest compared with larger jets, so passengers should expect that some carry-on bags may be tagged and placed in the aircraft’s hold at the gate, a standard practice on regional turboprop operations in Canada.
Noise and vibration remain common concerns for first-time turboprop flyers, but the Dash 8-400 incorporates active noise and vibration suppression systems that help reduce the drone of the propellers in the cabin. Frequent flyers on WestJet Encore’s existing network often note that the most noticeable noise is concentrated near the wings and engines, while the front and rear of the cabin feel quieter. Flight times between Calgary and Campbell River are expected to be under two hours, putting perceived noise and vibration well within what most regional travelers experience on similar routes.
Comfort, Seat Pitch and WestJet’s Recent Focus on Space
Seat comfort has been a hot topic for WestJet in recent months, after the airline shelved a plan to densify economy cabins on certain Boeing 737 aircraft following public and staff criticism. While the Dash 8-400 fleet was not the focus of that controversy, the decision to reverse course on tighter seating has shone a spotlight on legroom and space across the network. For passengers on the new Calgary to Campbell River service, that context may be reassuring.
WestJet Encore’s Dash 8-400s traditionally offer a seat pitch in the region of the mid- to high-20s inches, broadly in line with regional competitors operating similar aircraft in Canada. The 2-2 layout, with no middle seat and relatively tall cabin windows, can make the aircraft feel more spacious than its footprint suggests, particularly on daytime flights with views over the Rockies and coastal inlets. For many travelers, the perception of comfort on a short turboprop sector is driven as much by flight length and smooth operations as by raw seat measurements.
Soft-product elements will also shape the comfort experience on the new route. While WestJet has not highlighted any route-specific amenities, passengers can expect the airline’s standard Encore regional service: friendly cabin crews, buy-on-board snacks and beverages, and a pared-back but familiar WestJet branding. Inflight entertainment screens are not installed on Dash 8-400 aircraft, so travelers should bring personal devices preloaded with content, along with headphones and portable chargers, particularly on days when weather or traffic leads to extended time on the tarmac.
Pricing, Seasonal Demand and How Fares Are Likely to Behave
Although detailed fare ladders for the new Calgary to Campbell River route have not been released, early indications from WestJet’s broader domestic strategy suggest that pricing will follow a familiar pattern: entry-level economy fares aimed at stimulating demand, paired with higher, more flexible tickets targeting business and last-minute travelers. Seasonal factors will play a major role. With the route scheduled to begin in mid-May and operate through the peak summer season, demand from tourists, cottage owners, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts is expected to be strong.
Campbell River markets itself as the “Salmon Capital of the World” and serves as a gateway to kayaking, wildlife viewing, heli-fishing and coastal lodge stays across the Discovery Islands and the North Island. That popularity, combined with limited air capacity into smaller airports on Vancouver Island, has historically pushed up summer fares when seats are scarce. Daily Dash 8-400 service from Calgary will add much-needed capacity, but travelers should still expect prices to climb on peak weekends, holidays and during major events.
WestJet executives have repeatedly emphasized value and affordability as core elements of the airline’s network expansion. In recent schedule announcements, the carrier has highlighted statistics showing a majority of its non-stop services priced lower than in previous seasons, positioning itself as a budget-conscious option in a competitive Canadian market. For the Calgary to Campbell River route, that could translate to attractive introductory fares, particularly for early bookers. However, passengers waiting until the last minute for popular departure dates are unlikely to see deep discounts, especially if the flight is already approaching full capacity.
Regional Connectivity and Who the Route is Designed to Serve
Calgary’s role as WestJet’s primary hub means the new Campbell River service is about more than a simple point-to-point link between Alberta and Vancouver Island. For travelers in Northern and Eastern Canada, the flight opens a more streamlined path to the British Columbia coast. Passengers originating in cities such as Toronto, Halifax, Winnipeg or Regina will be able to connect in Calgary and continue directly to Campbell River without having to route through Vancouver or transfer to ferries and regional carriers.
On the outbound side from British Columbia, the route offers Campbell River residents and nearby communities improved access to WestJet’s network across the Americas, Europe and Asia, via same-day connections in Calgary. That could be particularly valuable for business travelers, resource-sector workers commuting to projects in Alberta or further afield, and students or families needing to reach major cities across Canada and beyond.
Local officials in Campbell River have welcomed the new link as a boost to economic development, noting that enhanced air service helps underpin tourism growth, business attraction and overall livability. For airport authorities, securing a national carrier like WestJet on a daily seasonal route is a signal of confidence in the community’s long-term prospects as a regional center for outdoor adventure and coastal industry.
How the New Route Fits Into WestJet’s Changing Network Strategy
The Calgary to Campbell River service debuts at a time when WestJet is reshaping its network, intensifying its focus on domestic and sun-leisure flying while trimming some transborder routes to the United States. Schedule data for summer 2026 shows the carrier reducing certain cross-border services as demand patterns shift, even as it adds new domestic and regional links like Campbell River, North Bay and Sault Ste. Marie.
This rebalancing reflects a broader industry trend in Canada, where airlines are leaning into markets that show strong, resilient demand, particularly for leisure and visiting-friends-and-relatives travel. For WestJet, that has meant doubling down on Calgary as a central hub, adding Latin American sun destinations in winter and reinforcing east-west connectivity in summer. The Dash 8-400 fleet, operated through WestJet Encore, is central to that strategy because it allows the airline to serve smaller communities with lower operating costs compared with larger jets.
For travelers, this means more point-to-point choices inside Canada, but potentially fewer non-stop options to certain U.S. cities that once had direct WestJet service. The net effect for Western Canada’s secondary markets, including Campbell River, is largely positive: where demand can support a daily turboprop or a few weekly narrowbody flights, WestJet appears willing to add capacity, particularly when those flights tie into its primary hub network.
Practical Tips for Flying the Calgary–Campbell River Route
While timetables and fare levels will be refined as the May 15, 2026 launch date approaches, travelers booking the new route can already plan around some known quirks of Dash 8-400 operations. Checked baggage allowances and fees will follow WestJet’s standard domestic policies, but overhead-space limitations mean that larger carry-ons are often gate-checked. Building a little extra time into connections in Calgary is advisable, especially for passengers collecting gate-checked bags before moving on to international or transcontinental flights.
Weather can also affect turboprop operations differently than jets, particularly on coastal approaches. Campbell River’s location near mountains and water can bring low cloud, rain and occasional wind patterns that challenge smaller aircraft. The Dash 8-400 is designed for such environments and is a mainstay in regional fleets across Canada, but passengers should remain prepared for occasional schedule adjustments or holding patterns when systems roll through Vancouver Island.
For those planning summer holidays and outdoor itineraries, the daily frequency will offer more flexibility than less frequent regional services. Early morning departures from Calgary may allow same-day check-in at fishing lodges or coastal resorts, while afternoon returns could make it possible to squeeze in a final morning on the water before heading back to Alberta or onward to other destinations. Booking early, choosing seats based on personal preference for noise and views, and monitoring WestJet’s app for schedule updates will help travelers make the most of this new non-stop link.