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New air service should speed up travel this winter to Sun Peaks Resort. WestJet, which flies into Kamloops, made plans this summer to add new service and revamp connections.

Vancouver skiers and snowboarded have driven four hours to reach the slopes of Sun Peaks Resort, but a 44-minute flight may replace the drive. WestJet is expanding its service to Sun Peaks with a new flight between Vancouver and Kamloops. The new daily service begins Nov. 1, 2009.

The flight leaves Vancouver International Airport at 12:30 p.m. and arrives in Kamloops at 1:19 p.m. Flights depart Kamloops at 10:45 a.m. and return to Vancouver at 11:41 a.m.

WestJet has also revamped their schedule for the Kamloops airport to allow for easier connections in Calgary and same-day skiing for Albertans. The flight departs Calgary at 10:05 a.m. and arrives at 10:12 a.m., due to the time change. The early arrival -even with the 45-minute drive to Sun Peaks -- allows skiers and snowboarders to be on the slopes of Sun Peaks by afternoon.

The return flight to Calgary departs at 2 p.m., which permits time for a few morning runs. It arrives in Calgary at 3:57 p.m.

Those passengers departing on WestJet from Toronto at 7:15 a.m. in the morning will connect through Calgary on the same day. You can eat breakfast in Toronto, lunch at Sun Peaks Resort, and then hop the lift for an afternoon of skiing.

More information. Or call 250-578-5399.