Pacific Coastal Airlines has come up with a unique idea to help visitors leave the region with a box full of local wine.

The airline will be giving customers a free portable wine box to help transport six bottles of local wine home. The boxes will be accompanied by discount coupons from featured wineries encouraging people to check out local wineries and to remind people that it is the only airline offering 50 pounds of free checked baggage with every fare.

"I am really excited to launch these wine boxes," Jenelle Hynes, Pacific Coastal Airlines' Business Development & Customer Service Manager, Okanagan Kootenay Region said. "It provides an easy solution for customers coming up for wine tours while showing our support of the local wine industry.”

The boxes have a carrying handle and are branded with the Pacific Coastal Airlines logo along with the three participating partner wineries – the Vibrant Vine, House of Rose, and The View.

Photo Credit: Pacific Coastal Airlines

"This is a unique program with our wineries and Pacific Coastal," Wyn Lewis, Proprietor of the Vibrant Vine Winery said. "It's a great way to promote our wineries and Okanagan wine in general to the BC region and to travellers from outside the province as well."

The boxes will be given to those travelling to Kelowna, Victoria and Cranbrook as well as other connections and locations.

"Partnering with the Vibrant Vine, the View and House of Rose was easy," says Hynes. They are all B.C. based, family owned and operated businesses just like us and they are keen to think outside the box for innovative ways to promote their products to new audiences."

Coastal Pacific Airlines provides twice daily service between Victoria and Kelowna and daily flights between Kelowna and Cranbrook.