An Air Canada Boeing 737 Max 8 landed at the Nanaimo Airport on Monday, April 17, the first time the airline has landed that type of plane at the airport.
The plane landed safely at 3:07 p.m. after experiencing a wind shear warning on the first attempt at landing. Approximately 160 passengers arrived on the flight from Vancouver, most of whom were students from Toronto who arrived for a school trip.
According to Dave Devana, the airport鈥檚 CEO, the plane signifies the start of a new era for the airport. Being able to land large planes open up possibilities for more international and cross-Canada flights from the airport
鈥淭his [plane] holds 190 passengers; our biggest right now holds about 140, so it鈥檚 more economical,鈥� said Devana. 鈥淣ow we can show Air Canada, WestJet, Flair, all these other airlines that this plane can land here. It鈥檚 a gateway to the rest of the world.鈥�
The airport plans on showing video of the 737 landing to other airlines with hopes of examining more opportunities for the airport to land bigger planes on its runway.
bailey.seymour@nanaimobulletin.com
Like us on and follow us on
