British Columbian commuter carrier Cascadia Air (Penticton) appears to have ceased all operations, with customers resorting to social media to voice their frustrations over cancelled flights, outstanding refunds, and a lack of communication from the company.
ch-aviation attempted to call Cascadia Air, but a recorded message states the phone line does not accept calls, while emails to the company bounced back. Those to President and Chief Operating Officer Jeremy Barrett returned with an "out-of-office" notification. Flight bookings on the website have been disabled, instead referring to a general inquiries email form.
The Fraser Valley Current newsletter reported Cascadia Air ceased operations abruptly over the Christmas holidays. The airline had sent a brief email to this effect to the Chilliwack regional airport on December 29, 2022, an airport representative told The Current.
Angry customers have taken to social media to complain: "Cascadia Air, you are a joke! I've been waiting five weeks for my refund for a flight you cancelled due to low passenger loads! Phone numbers no longer work! I want my money back! reads one of several similar frustrated messages on the airline's official social media profile. Others said they had been fighting for refunds for months.
Cascadia Air obtained its Air Operating Certificate (AOC) from Transport Canada in February 2020, at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. As previously reported, it forged economic development partnerships with towns and cities across British Columbia and provided essential flight services throughout Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii, running rotations between Vancouver International, Penticton, the Tri-Cities, Vancouver Island, and the Okanagan Valley with a fleet of four Piper (twin piston) PA31-350s.
On December 7, 2021, capital pool company Ord Mountain Resources (OMR) Corporation announced it had acquired 100% of Cascadia Air's parent Cascadia Northern Air and BluSky Aviation Group Inc, a special-purpose acquisitions holdings company. ch-aviation has reached out to Ord Mountain Resources for comment.
