West Shore residents heading to the Victoria International Airport now have the ability to hire an airport shuttle.
Dimitri Karkanis has been operating his “Cloud 10” airport shuttle van for a few months, and said as a 14-year resident of Langford, there is a clear need for transportation from the West Shore to YYJ.
Cloud 10 makes the 30 to 40 kilometre trek to or from the airport or the B.C. Ferries terminal, even for a single customer. “People are really enjoying it. It’s door-to-door service, said Karkanis, 66. “I just need to have some advance notice, about a day and half.”
This isn’t the first time Karkanis has ran his airport shuttle. The retired naval combat information officer began the business in 2003 and ran it until 2006, but stopped due to knee replacement surgery.
“We are really glad they are going to start service up to the airport,” said Terry Stewart, director of marketing and community relations at the Victoria airport. “It’s always best and important to provide additional services and to meet the demand of the West Shore.”
Any time planes are flying and landing at YYJ, Karkanis will hit the road to pick people up — it could be 3:30 a.m. to catch a 5 a.m. flight, or 11:30 p.m. to bring someone home after they’ve landed.
When Karkanis was drawing up his rates he wanted to offer better prices than a taxi. For a trip to the airport from Langford he’ll charge $36 for one person. From Metchosin or Highlands its $40.
“It’s a little bit more than half of a taxi fare,” he estimates.
Akal Airporter shuttle will make trips to the West Shore, but only for groups and a minimum $75 charge.
The Cloud 10 shuttle van seats 11. “Five people with luggage have to take two taxis,” Karkanis said. “It’s also good for when a big family or two families want to travel together.”
For more information on the Cloud 10 shuttle, call 250-474-1290 or go to cloud10shuttleandtours.com.
reporter@goldstreamgazette.com