British Columbia seaplane operator Harbour Air is buying Pacific Coastal Airlines, forming a new regional airline group that will fly to 25 destinations.

The agreement announced on Tuesday will combine Harbour Air’s fleet of 40 float planes with Pacific Coastal’s 19 wheeled aircraft.

Both airlines were founded in Richmond, B.C., in the 1980s, and Harbour Air says the acquisition will preserve both brands while protecting and growing local jobs and keeping both under Canadian ownership.

It says in a news release that the acquisition will improve connectivity for passengers and the airlines’ ability to manage the “operational challenges” of bad weather.

The release says the new group will maintain up to 300 daily flights and protect air services for remote communities, while the combined workforce of 900 staff will allow for better career development.

Harbour Air CEO Bert van der Stege says in the release that the airline looks forward to building “the leading regional airline group in Western Canada” with Pacific Coastal.

Both airlines are privately owned and the acquisition price was not announced.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 15, 2026.

The Canadian Press