Abbotsford-based optometrist Dr. Vicky Mahairhu is sounding the alarm over persistent flight cancellations between Vancouver and Fort Nelson, B.C. Her monthly trips to the northern community — over 1,000 kilometers away — are regularly disrupted, forcing her to cancel patient appointments both in Fort Nelson and back home.
In February, Mahairhu’s flight was cancelled at the airport, wiping out her six-day appointment schedule. In March, she was stranded for an unexpected week after back-to-back cancellations. The disruptions have affected her family as well, with her children left at home without a parent.
She has written to Central Mountain Air, the only commercial carrier serving Fort Nelson, as well as to local officials, urging for solutions. Her call for action is echoed by school trustee Bill Dolan and resident Mark Cripps, who highlighted how unreliable air service is straining medical access and quality of life for seniors and other residents.
Central Mountain Air acknowledged the concerns, attributing the disruptions to industry-wide challenges like pilot shortages, but offered no concrete plans. Mahairhu suggests fewer but more reliable flights and advanced notice on cancellations.
Mayor Rob Fraser and the municipal council are now pushing for discussions with the airline, as community frustration mounts over an essential service in decline.
Source: Swifteradio.com
