News Airlines
New executive team for Pacific Coastal

Pacific Coastal Airlines of Richmond, BC, in late December introduced its new executive leadership team, which the company describes as being part of its ongoing reorganization plan. A privately owned regional airline operating from Vancouver International Airport’s (YVR) South Terminal, Pacific Coastal Airlines (PCA) describes itself as the sixth-largest airline operating at YVR, based on outbound seats, and third largest in takeoffs and landings.

PCA flies to 16 airports in BC, including destinations from as far east as Cranbrook in the Rocky Mountains, as far north as Prince George, and Masset on the island of Haida Gwaii, and as far west as Tofino. With its affiliate airline Wilderness Seaplanes, located in Port Hardy on northern Vancouver Island, PCA connects to more than 50 additional destinations along the south coast. Pacific Coastal also operates WestJet Link, which provides service from its base in Calgary to Cranbrook, Prince George, Lethbridge, Lloydminster, and Medicine Hat, and between Vancouver and Cranbrook.

Rob Kidner assumes the new role of vice president, corporate development for PCA, after serving for five years as vice president, operations, for the company. A 39-year veteran of the regional airline industry, Kidner is now responsible for all of PCA’s support services including IT, employee services, corporate communications, leadership and employee development, and corporate strategy.

Darcy Coonfer becomes vice president, flight operations, for PCA. A commercial pilot with over 20 years of experience in the aviation industry, Coonfer is now responsible for operational control and regulatory compliance of all flight operations branch activities, including strategic operations and crew planning, flight dispatch, and expansion of PCA’s WestJet Link flight operations teams.

Ron Karger becomes vice president, maintenance, for PCA. A licensed Aviation Mechanical Engineer, Karger has held senior leadership positions with WestJet and Encore, Air Canada Jazz/Canadian Regional, and Time Air over a career spanning 30 years. In his new role, Karger will grow and mentor PCA’s maintenance team, provide operational control and strategic planning, assist in the development of a new fleet strategy and oversee the introduction of new maintenance software to improve efficiency and overall maintenance reliability.

Laura Nadin-Young becomes vice president, airports and operations centre, for PCA. With 32 years of leadership at AirBC and Jazz Aviation, where she served as general manager, airports, western Canada, Nadin-Young is responsible for providing strategic leadership and operational oversight for both Pacific Coastal and WestJet Link operations, and development of the operations centre.

Johnathan Richardson becomes vice president, commercial services, for PCA, where he began career back in 2008. Since that time, Richardson has held marketing management roles at Calm Air and Central Mountain Air before rejoining Pacific Coastal in November 2017. In this new position, he is responsible for revenue management, business development, and marketing and product development teams.

Zahra Kawa becomes vice president, finance, for PCA. Holding a CPA designation, Kawa holds experience in the aviation industry through various senior finance roles at CHC Helicopters, Heli-One, and Ledcor’s Summit Aviation Group. Prior to joining Pacific Coastal Airlines in April 2019, Kawa held the position of director of finance at Ledcor Resources & Transportation overseeing corporate finance for its aviation, marine, and forestry businesses.