Fly YXC Alliance Opens Kootenay Rockies Region to U.S. Winter Sports Enthusiasts With Direct Flights From Delta Air Lines

CRANBROOK, British Columbia, Oct 10, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- DALW | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Officials from Fly YXC Alliance and Kootenay Rockies Tourism announce today direct flights to Canadian Rockies International Airport (YXC) from Salt Lake City, Utah (SLC). The new agreement with Delta Air Lines will make traveling to the Kootenay Rockies Region easier than ever for U.S. winter sports enthusiasts.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081010/LAF054)

"We are pleased to extend new service to a region that boasts a strong market for skiers and snowboarders," said Joe Esposito, Delta's managing director -- Network Planning. "In turn, customers in the Kootenay Rockies will have one-stop access via Salt Lake City to almost 100 destinations providing them with opportunity to pursue leisure and business interests."

Delta's new direct flights from SLC to YXC airports take just under two hours with more than 25 connecting flights from major U.S. markets. Beginning December 17, 2008 and running through April 5, 2009, round trip flights will be available Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

The Kootenay Rockies, located in Southeastern British Columbia, are home to eight world class lift-serviced ski resorts including: Fernie Alpine Resort, Kimberley Alpine Resort, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, Panorama Mountain Village, Revelstoke Mountain Resort, Whitewater Winter Resort, Red Mountain Resort and Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. Additionally, the region is home to a multitude of helicopter and cat-skiing operators and has been a favorite powder-skiing destination for years.

"The Kootenay Rockies offer guests a snow-sports experience like no other," adds Chris Dadson, President of Kootenay Rockies Tourism. "Our 'Powder Highway' consists of more resorts, backcountry helicopter-skiing, cat-skiing, touring and adventure operators than any other region in the world. With this new service from Delta, it is possible for some U.S. visitors to leave home in the morning and be skiing in the pristine Canadian Rockies by mid afternoon."

Born in the Kootenay Rockies, helicopter skiing was first introduced to the world 40 years ago by Austrian-born Hans Gmoser. Gmoser founded Canadian Mountain Holidays (CMH), which is still one of the most widely recognized helicopter skiing companies in the world and boasts eight lodge locations in the Kootenay Rockies.

With the invention of cat-skiing in 1975 at Selkirk Wilderness Experience, near Nelson, B.C., skiing became a whole new adventure; now more than a dozen cat-skiing companies are operating in the Kootenay Rockies.

The Kootenay Rockies Region of British Columbia is home to the highest concentration of ski resorts, touring operations and back country helicopter and cat-skiing operations in the world. For more information on the Kootenay Rockies and travel planning assistance, visit http://www.kootenayrockies.com.

Delta Air lines flights to YXC are available now and travelers can book itineraries through http://www.delta.com, http://www.flycanadianrockies.com or through a travel agent.

SOURCE Fly YXC Alliance

http://www.delta.com

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