Cowichan Valley residents can now head to the Nanaimo airport if they want a daily, non-stop flight to Calgary on Air Canada.
Officials cut a ceremonial ribbon recently at the airport.
"We are thrilled to link Nanaimo directly to Calgary today, giving customers from Central Vancouver Island convenient access to Alberta and beyond," said Kevin C. Howlett, Air Canada's senior vice president of regional markets.
The Nanaimo-Calgary flights arrive at the central island airport daily at 1:43 p.m. and depart at 2:15 p.m. Passengers cross the Rockies in approximately one hour and 35 minutes.