Watson Lake will soon have scheduled air service again

For the first time in years, Watson Lake, Yukon, will soon have scheduled air service again.

Alkan Air has announced it will provide flights between Whitehorse and Watson Lake three times a week, starting on Sept. 12.

The community hasn't had regular air service since the 1990s.

Wendy Tayler, Alkan Air's president, says two partnerships came together to make the service possible: Air North will transfer passengers between the two airlines and Budget will provide rental vehicles at the Watson Lake airport so passengers can get to the community.

It's great news for community members and business people, who typically have to drive the five-hour stretch from Whitehorse.

It will also benefit tourists and hunters, who will be able to get to Watson Lake in an hour by plane.

"Right now, there are a lot of outfitters who fly out of Watson lake out to remote locations, but their challenge is to have people come in from outside and get down to Watson Lake," says Peter Turner, president of the Yukon Chamber of Commerce.

"So now it's going to be an easy thing for somebody coming from, say Vancouver or Edmonton or Calgary, to come through Whitehorse, connect down to Watson Lake and then fly out for some fishing or hunting."

Tayler says Alkan Air has a fleet of 16 aircraft, which seat from four people to 19.

"We can scale this fleet up or down based on the needs," she says.

The price for a one-way ticket from Whitehorse to Watson lake is set at $325.