Northwestern Air will begin offering regular flights between Abbotsford, Kelowna, and Red Deer, Alta. in March.

The company, based in Fort Smith, N.W.T., is adding Abbotsford International Airport to their regular flight schedule starting March 3.

"The Fraser Valley, Okanagan Valley and Alberta work in collaboration quite frequently," said Dave Holmberg, Chair of the Abbotsford Airport Authority.

The family owned corporation was founded in 1965 as an aircraft leasing company operating in Alberta and British Columbia.

It runs weekly charters to diamond mines in the Arctic, government charters to northern communities and the Arctic islands, and local charters to remote areas for tourism and fishing.

The Abbotsford service will operate on a five-day-a-week basis and bookings can be made online starting in February.

More information can be found on their website at www.nwal.ca or by contacting the Abbotsford International Airport at 604851-1001.