Harbour Air suspends flight schedule from Vancouver to Butchart Gardens

Flower power phenomena are less popular than expected: Harbour Air is pausing its special flights between Vancouver and Butchart Gardens.

The seaplane company launched flights between Vancouver and the Saanich Peninsula in late May – both to the popular tourist attraction in Central Saanich and to Patricia Bay in North Saanich. The trip to Butchart Gardens was called Flights ‘N’ Flowers, an all-inclusive tour with two hours of admission to the gardens.

“We regularly review our flight network and bookings to ensure we are serving our customers’ most popular destinations year-round. As part of this review, Harbour Air has decided to suspend scheduled flights between Vancouver and Butchart Gardens and Vancouver and Patricia Bay during the summer months,” said a statement from Harbour Air’s press office in response to a query from Black Press Media. “We will continue to offer private charter flights and alternative travel options to visit Butchart Gardens via our numerous Victoria flight frequencies.”

Harbour Air plans to reinstate Vancouver-Patricia Bay service on September 16, connecting Peninsula customers to downtown Vancouver with 30-minute flights.

Customers with bookings for these planned route changes will be contacted by Harbour Air or their booking agent to advise them of any next steps, alternative travel options or refunds.

Harbour Air is North America’s largest seaplane airline with a fleet of 45 aircraft and up to 300 daily scheduled flights, sightseeing flights, adventure packages and private flights.