News: Fly your kayak to the Charlottes

April-May 1995

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.

 

Thunderbird Air has just announced its 1995 Queen Charlotte Islands/Haida Gwaii summer schedule, with plans to serve both north and south islands this year by adding Sandspit to its Masset service.

Thunderbird's BAE 748 'combi' jet prop aircraft has a cargo door and main deck freight hold which permits it to carry over-sized cargo such as bikes and sea kayaks, as well as passengers.

In order to assist local tourism, the airline has introduced a "Haida Explorer" fare of $299 (Cdn) return, when purchased in conjunction with any one of the 40 different island-based tour operators. There is a wide range of packages available, including kayaking, zodiac, and sailing tours, fishing charters and cruise boats.

They are offering a special "paddle your own canoe" fare, permitting a paddler to take a kayak along on the flight for the cost of a passenger fare. They also have a "BYOB" special enabling cyclists to bring their bike along with them at no extra cost when paying regular fare.

For paddlers, the boat launch at Sandspit is only a couple of hundred metres away from the airport. Thunderbird also flies to Bella Bella, providing easy access to the Hakai wilderness. All flights operate through Vancouver's South Terminal.

For further information call 1-800-898-0177, (604) 231-8933, or a travel agent.