Sunshine Coast Air

What Sunshine Coast Air does

Sunshine Coast Air Inc. is a privately held floatplane operator headquartered in Sechelt, British Columbia, that has been in continuous operation since 2012 under parent holding company JDR Pacific Ventures Ltd. The company provides year-round daily scheduled seaplane service across three routes connecting Sechelt with Nanaimo Harbour (ZNA), Victoria Airport (YYJ), and Vancouver Airport South Terminal (YVR), using a fleet of de Havilland Beaver seaplanes (up to 5 passengers), Cessna 180 seaplanes (up to 3 passengers), and Cessna 182 wheeled aircraft (up to 3 passengers). It also offers customized charter flights, eight distinct scenic tour products (including Sechelt and Nanaimo Coastal Tours, Glacier Tour, Chatterbox Falls Tour, Princess Louisa Signature Tour, Fly and Dine Experience, Sechelt Peninsula Tour, and Talaysay Land, Sea & Air Audio Tour), adventure weddings and elopements, intra-coastal freight and cargo shipping between Sechelt and Nanaimo Harbour, and branded merchandise.

Name

Sunshine Coast Air

Legal name

Sunshine Coast Air Inc.

Website

https://sunshinecoastair.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Seaplane Transportation Services

NAICS

Scheduled Air Transportation (48111), Air Transportation (481)

SIC

Air Transportation, Scheduled (4512), Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522)

akta.pro primary industry

Seaplane & Amphibious Air Taxi (TLAFABAI)

Keywords

• Scheduled seaplane service
• Floatplane charter flights
• Scenic flightseeing tours
• Air cargo transport
• Coastal aviation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Sechelt

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Scheduled Flight Services: Per-ticket sales for scheduled seaplane routes between Sechelt and Vancouver Airport (YVR), Victoria Airport (YYJ), and Nanaimo Harbour (ZNA). Revenue generated through Saver Fares and Classic Fares with age-based discounts (senior, student, child). Subject to fuel surcharges on Nanaimo route.
2. Charter Flights: Customized charter flights for business or pleasure to waterfront destinations across West Coast BC. Pricing varies by route and aircraft type (Cessna 180 or de Havilland Beaver). Includes wheelchair-accessible charter options.
3. Scenic Tours and Experiences: Eight distinct tour products including Sechelt Coastal Tour, Nanaimo Coastal Tour, Glacier Tour, Chatterbox Falls Tour, Princess Louisa Signature Tour, Sechelt Peninsula Tour, Fly and Dine Experience, and Talaysay Land Sea & Air Audio Tour. Priced per person with seasonal variations.
4. Freight and Cargo: Shipping services between Sechelt and Nanaimo Harbour for packages up to 50lbs. Pricing by weight category from envelope ($15) to 35-49.99 lbs ($50). Includes specialty items like bikes ($75), golf clubs ($50), and animals ($50).
5. Merchandise Sales: Branded merchandise including hats ($40), toques ($40), t-shirts ($40), hoodies ($65), and gift cards available at Sechelt and Nanaimo offices.
6. Adventure Wedding Services: Partnership with Coastal Weddings and Events for adventure elopements and mountain weddings at remote locations including Chatterbox Falls, alpine glacier lakes, and Thormanby Island beaches.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sunshine Coast Air operates scheduled floatplane (seaplane) airline services connecting the Sunshine Coast (Sechelt) with Vancouver Island (Nanaimo Harbour, Victoria Airport) and Vancouver (YVR) using de Havilland Beaver and Cessna 180 seaplanes. The company supplements scheduled service with customized charter flights, scenic flightseeing tours, adventure wedding/elopement packages, freight/cargo transport, and branded merchandise.

Product overview

Sunshine Coast Air is a floatplane airline operating scheduled seaplane services, charters, scenic tours, and freight transport across British Columbia's West Coast. The core offering consists of year-round daily scheduled floatplane flights (using de Havilland Beaver and Cessna 180 seaplanes) connecting the Sunshine Coast (Sechelt) with Vancouver Island (Nanaimo Harbour, Victoria Airport) and Vancouver (YVR South Terminal). Supporting services include customized charter flights (Cessna 180 seaplanes up to 3 passengers, de Havilland Beaver up to 5 passengers, Cessna 182 wheeled up to 3 passengers), scenic tour experiences (Sechelt Coastal Tour, Nanaimo Coastal Tour, Glacier Tour, Chatterbox Falls Tour, Sechelt Peninsula Tour, Princess Louisa Signature Tour, Fly and Dine Experience, Talaysay Land Sea & Air Audio Tour), adventure wedding/elopement packages, freight and cargo transport, and branded merchandise. The portfolio is unified under the Sunshine Coast Air brand, with tours and charters complementing the scheduled service as add-on experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sechelt-Nanaimo Harbour Scheduled Route 20-minute float plane service between Sechelt Inlet and Nanaimo Harbour with multiple daily departures and a 5% fuel surcharge. Fare options include Saver ($133.46), Classic Adult ($156.22), Senior/Student ($141.06), and Child ($110.70).
• Sechelt-Victoria Airport Scheduled Route 40-minute float plane service between Sechelt Inlet and Victoria Airport Water Aerodrome. Saver Fare $228.65, Standard $269.00, with no age-based discounts.
• Sechelt-Vancouver Airport Scheduled Route 25-minute float plane service between Sechelt Inlet and Vancouver Airport South Terminal (Seair Dock). Saver Fare $177.65, Standard $209.00.
• Customized Charter Flights Private seaplane charter flights for business or leisure using Cessna 180 (3 passengers), de Havilland Beaver (5 passengers), or Cessna 182 wheeled aircraft (3 passengers) to access waterfront destinations across BC's West Coast. Includes wheelchair-accessible charter options.
• Adventure Weddings and Elopements Seaplane wedding and elopement charter services offered in partnership with Coastal Weddings and Events, featuring ceremonies at Chatterbox Falls, alpine glacier lakes, and Thormanby Island.
• Sechelt Coastal Tour 30-minute scenic flightseeing tour through Sechelt Inlet past Porpoise Bay Park, over the Caren Mountain Range, and along coastline to Smugglers Cove, Thormanby Island, and the City of Sechelt. $212 per person (May 1, 2026 – April 30, 2027), 2 passenger minimum.
• Nanaimo Coastal Tour Scenic flightseeing adventure departing from Nanaimo Harbour, exploring nearby islands, Vancouver Island coastline, local lakes, and Mount Benson.
• Sechelt Peninsula Tour Flightseeing tour over Sechelt Inlet gateway to Narrows Inlet featuring Skookumchuck Rapids, Freil Falls (1450ft drop), Thormanby Island, and Smugglers Cove. $320 per person (May 1, 2026 – April 30, 2027), with optional Talaysay Audio Tour upgrade at $50 per person.
• Glacier Tour Aerial tour over Salmon Inlet through mountain goat terrain to turquoise glacier lakes, featuring views of Tetrahedron Provincial Park, Tantalus Range, and Phantom Lake.
• Chatterbox Falls Tour Flightseeing tour to Princess Louisa Inlet featuring aerial views of coastal scenery and waterfalls, with seaplane docking at the inlet head for ground exploration of Chatterbox Falls (120m cascade). 2.25 hours duration. Up to 2 passengers: $899; 3-6 passengers: $1499.
• Princess Louisa Signature Tour Three-hour partnership tour combining float plane flight over Jervis Inlet and Princess Louisa Inlet with boat transfer through Egmont, featuring visits to Chatterbox Falls. Starting at $675 per person (June 15 – September 30, 2026). Partnership with West Coast Wilderness Lodge and Egmont Adventure Centre.
• Fly and Dine Experience Scenic flight through Narrows Inlet over Skookumchuck rapids to West Coast Wilderness Lodge, featuring dining at Inlets Restaurant with brunch and dinner options. Brunch $234 per person (June 8 – September 14, 2026); dinner $364-$410 per person (May 6 – August 31, 2026).
• Talaysay Land, Sea & Air Audio Tour Cultural-historical audio tour partnered with Talasay Tours, featuring Indigenous storytelling, drumming, and song about the Shishalh peoples while exploring Sechelt Inlet, Skookumchuck Rapids, and coastal areas. $370 per person (May 1, 2026 – April 30, 2027).
• Freight and Cargo Service Shipping service between Sechelt (Sunshine Coast) and Nanaimo Harbour (Vancouver Island) with weight-based pricing from envelopes ($15) to 50lb packages ($50), plus specialty items including bikes ($75), golf clubs ($50), and animals ($50). Maximum 50 lbs per item.
• Branded Merchandise and Gifts Branded merchandise including hats ($40), toques ($40), t-shirts ($40), hoodies ($65), and gift cards available at Sechelt and Nanaimo offices.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• West Coast Wilderness LodgecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Fly and Dine Experience offering scenic flights over Narrows Inlet and Skookumchuck rapids to dining at Inlets Restaurant. Also partner for Princess Louisa Signature Tour. Seasonal offerings including brunch (June-September) and dinner experiences with ground transportation included.
• Egmont Adventure CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Princess Louisa Signature Tour combining float plane and boat travel through Princess Louisa Inlet. Tour includes return transfers between Egmont and Chatterbox Falls with refreshments and snacks. Booking through Egmont Adventure Centre at 778-280-8619.
• Coastal Weddings and EventscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership to deliver adventure elopements and mountain weddings at remote West Coast locations. Services include officiants, flowers, champagne, and full event coordination at destinations like Chatterbox Falls, alpine glacier lakes, and Thormanby Island.
• Paige Lorraine PhotographysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerWedding photography partner for adventure elopements and mountain weddings. Captures moments at world-famous locations including Chatterbox Falls and remote coastal destinations.
• Talasay TourscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Talaysay Land, Sea & Air Audio Tour featuring Indigenous cultural-historical storytelling. Narrated by Candace Campo with songs, history of Shishalh peoples, and exploration of sacred fjords including Sechelt Inlet and Hotham Sound. Audio tour upgrade available for other tours ($50 per person).

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Harbour Air: Largest seaplane operator in British Columbia, running scheduled and charter floatplane service across the Salish Sea and coastal BC. Directly comparable business model, fleet (de Havilland Beaver/Cessna), and customer base (commuters, tourists, charters) to Sunshine Coast Air; significantly larger scale.
• Tofino Air: West Coast Vancouver Island seaplane operator offering scheduled and charter floatplane service. Direct overlap in charter/tour business and BC coastal tourism clientele; Sunshine Coast Air's own site cross-links to Tofino Air's scheduled service.
• Salt Spring Air: BC-based seaplane operator running scheduled service between Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, and the Gulf Islands. Comparable scheduled-seaplane model serving inter-island and Vancouver-Vancouver Island traffic.
• Kenmore Air: Long-established Pacific Northwest seaplane operator with scheduled and charter service from Seattle to the San Juan Islands and BC. Closest US analog in terms of fleet mix (Cessna/de Havilland) and tour-plus-scheduled business model.

Broad incumbents

• Pacific Coastal Airlines: BC-based regional airline offering scheduled passenger and cargo service across western Canada. While not a seaplane operator, it competes for inter-coastal BC business and leisure travelers on longer corridors.
• Air North: Yukon-based regional carrier with scheduled service linking BC, Yukon, and beyond. Comparable small-fleet regional airline serving remote Canadian communities, though with wheeled aircraft rather than seaplanes.
• WestJet: Major Canadian carrier providing scheduled service into YVR and YYJ, serving the same end-customers Sunshine Coast Air targets. Indirect competitor capturing price-sensitive leisure travelers who choose cheaper airline-plus-ferry combos.

Regional players

• Helijet International: BC helicopter operator offering scheduled passenger service (Victoria-Vancouver) and charter/tour flights. Competes for similar downtown-to-downtown and tourism customers on Vancouver-Vancouver Island routes, substituting rotorcraft for seaplanes.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sunshine Coast Air