Flying low: Exciting new ways to explore the Pacific Northwest

Flying on a seaplane is a rare travel pleasure. 

You get great views and can land exactly where you want to be - providing there is a body of water. 

Harbour Air, British Columbia's leading coastal airline, has announced its largest seasonal expansion, featuring the return of a Vancouver-Seattle service beginning next week, along with three new routes including the airline's first Victoria-Seattle service.

The expansion is in response to strong demand across the Pacific Northwest of Canada and the US, adding new connections to communities like Ucluelet - named one of Expedia's 2026 Destinations of the Year - and Campbell River, a gateway to top-notch fishing and wilderness adventures. 

And for the first time, Vancouver Island travellers will have direct cross-border seaplane service without routing through Vancouver.

"This is our biggest seasonal expansion yet, and it reflects what we're hearing from our guests and communities," said Chris Fordyce, Chief Commercial Officer for Harbour Air. 

"The Vancouver-Seattle route has been one of our strongest seasonal services, and we're thrilled to bring it back. We're also launching three new routes this summer, including our first Victoria-Seattle service, new flights to Ucluelet, and new flights to Campbell River. 

"These additions strengthen our network and give coastal B.C. travellers more ways to explore the region and beyond."

The new flight means locals, and tourists, can fly from downtown Vancouver to central Seattle in one hour. 

Twice-daily departures will connecting Coal Harbour in downtown Vancouver with Lake Union in Seattle. One-way fares start from CAD$149, offering a fast alternative to driving, ferry connections and traditional airport routes. 

The journey has operated as a seasonal spring and summer service since 2018.

The inaugural Victoria-Seattle service launches on June 11, connecting Victoria's Inner Harbour with Lake Union in under an hour. 

Check out harbourair.com/everyday-low-fares for deals and see supernaturalbc.com. 

Southwest Airlines ponders international expansion

US-based Southwest Airlines is considering expanding its international footprint, having opened discussions with pilots and flight crew unions. 

The airline has filed with the US Department of Transportation for approval to fly to any country with which the US has an Open Skies aviation agreement, travel news hub Skift reported, 

If Southwest were to expand its international routes, that would take a change of federal law to add international routes at Dallas Love Field, the airport where the carrier is headquartered. 

The carrier operates an overwhelming majority of the airport’s 20 gates. 

The airport, the 32nd-busiest in the country, saw 16.9 million passengers in 2024 and officials said it could grow to 23 million passengers by the end of the decade. 

The carrier said in a statement that it is exploring what new international destinations it could serve with its Boeing 737 fleet. 

An international expansion would be one of the many changes Southwest has made in the past year to its business model, which include introducing premium seats, adding baggage fees, and partnering with online travel agencies. 

The airline currently serves the US, Mexico and the Caribbean.

“Southwest Airlines is continuing to consider ways to grow our business as we evolve to meet the needs of our current and future customers,” said Southwest Airlines spokesman Chris Perry.

Southwest operates three types of 737 narrow-body aircraft: the 700 model, 800 model and MAX 8 model. Southwest’s longest route is currently Phoenix, Arizona., to Honolulu, Hawaii. 

Planning to be in London? Ryanair launches new cheap flights

 With budget airline Ryanair you know exactly what you are getting: a seat on a plane that may, or may not, depart on time. 

Want to reserve a seat? That will cost you more. Want extra baggage? Pay up. Want something to eat? Hand over your credit card.

It's cheap, but not necessarily cheerful  

If you are happy to just get a cheap seat to a faraway destination you might never have heard of, then there are some intriguing options available on the Ryanair network. 

Ryanair has just revealed its London summer 2025 schedule with seven new routes from London Stansted.

The airline will launch new flights to Bodrum, Clermont-Ferrand, Dalaman, Münster, Lübeck, Linz (a re-launch) and Reggio Calabria, as well as extra frequencies on 30 other London routes. 

OK. These are not mainstream destinations. I even had to look up Dalaman, as I'd never heard of it. It's in south-west Turkey, apparently. But flights start from around $60.  

Overall, Ryanair is offering a total of 206 routes.

To support this traffic growth, Ryanair will base one new Boeing 737 in London Stansted for the summer, travel site Travel Mole reports. 

This brings Ryanair’s total London-based fleet to 56 aircraft and will create 30 new jobs for pilots, cabin crew and engineers.

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said: “We are pleased to announce new summer routes from London. We are also launching extra frequencies on 30 other London routes.”

Fly on holiday direct from the city centre

One of the great things about being in Europe - and particularly London - is the huge number of excellent travel destination options within a couple of hours of flight time.

Last-minute trips to Portugal. or maybe Hungary, are easily organised and can sometimes be snapped up for a pittance.

And for those who hate a long journey to and from an airport, British Airways is launching four new routes across Europe for the summer season out of London City Airport.

Customers can now book flights to Barcelona, Luxembourg, Milan and Thessaloniki.

Flights to all four destinations will operate on BA CityFlyer’s Embraer E190 aircraft.

The season kicks off with daily Luxembourg and Milan services from March 27, Travel Mole reports.

Thessaloniki launches on June 18, operating once a week on Saturday, and from June 19, Barcelona flights will operate six times a week.

Tom Stoddart, Managing Director of BA CityFlyer, said: "As customers start to plan their next summer getaway, we wanted to offer new routes to some of the most popular European destinations."

Seasonal services to Jersey and Guernsey are also returning. Flights will operate on Monday and Friday from June 20 to September 2 (the summer does not last very long in the UK).