
After years of aggressive growth, and with the task of integrating new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft this year, Canadian airline Westjet hit a pause of sorts, Monday, releasing a summer schedule with just three new routes.
The airline will add two new destinations in the United States, Portland, Oregon and Austin, Texas. Both will be served from the airline’s hub in Calgary.
It will also add a new domestic route from the oil patch in Edmonton to St. John’s, Newfoundland, flying three times a week.
“Edmonton is the largest, unserved airline route from our airport,” said Marie Manning, Director of Marketing & Business Development with St. John’s International Airport. “This new investment by WestJet is in addition to their direct service to Calgary during our peak summer season and provides a fast and convenient service for passengers travelling to and from Alberta.”
There are also minor frequency adjustments in the new schedule.
“This summer, WestJet again enhanced our schedules to offer travellers more convenience and connectivity to well-loved vacation destinations and major business markets across Canada, the U.S. and beyond,” said Arved von zur Muehlen, WestJet Chief Commercial Officer in a statement.
“With the addition of Austin and Portland this summer and a new route between St. John’s and Edmonton, we continue to create convenient ways to enjoy unique and interesting travel opportunities while supporting strong economic ties. We look forward to connecting friends, families and economies across the country and world this summer.”
Westjet had already revealed its big change for the summer, flying the brand-new Dreamliner from Calgary to London, Paris and Dublin, as well as a new service between Calgary and Atlanta, marking increasing cooperation with joint venture partner Delta Air Lines.
The airline signalled to expect only modest growth in December as it tries to find $200 million dollars in savings and efficiencies over the next two years, in a bid to revive its flagging fortunes. Westjet is in the midst of a transition from a low-cost airline flying point-to-point, to a competitor on the global stage.
Highlights of WestJet’s 2019 summer schedule include:
CALGARY
- Calgary-Houston, from 12 weekly flights to 13 weekly flights.
- Calgary-London (Gatwick), adding two weekly flights with daily 787 Dreamliner service.
- Calgary-Orlando, from once weekly to twice weekly.
- Calgary-Phoenix, will double service from once daily to twice daily.
- Calgary-Puerto Vallarta, from three times weekly to four times weekly.
- Calgary-San Diego, from three times weekly to four times weekly.
- Calgary-San Francisco, will double service from once daily to twice daily.
- Calgary-Kitchener, from seven weekly flights to eight weekly flights.
EDMONTON
- New non-stop three times weekly service between Edmonton and St. John’s.
- Edmonton-Halifax, from nine weekly flights to 10 weekly flights.
TORONTO
- Toronto-Nashville, from seven weekly flights to 10 weekly flights.
- Toronto-Grand Cayman, will double service from once weekly to twice weekly.
- Toronto-Kingston, from three weekly flights to four times weekly.
- Toronto-Liberia, will double service from once weekly to twice weekly.
- Toronto-Montego Bay, from 11 weekly flights to 12 weekly flights.
- Toronto-Nassau from six to seven times weekly.
- Toronto-Saint Maarten, will double service from once weekly to twice weekly.
- Toronto-Halifax, adding five weekly flights for seven-times daily service Monday to Friday.
- Toronto-Charlottetown, adding two weekly flights.
- Toronto-London, from two times daily to three times daily.
VANCOUVER
- Extension of existing once weekly winter seasonal service between Vancouver and Orlando.
HALIFAX
- Halifax-Winnipeg, from four weekly flights to five times weekly.
- Halifax-Edmonton, from nine weekly flights to 10 weekly flights.
- Halifax-Toronto, adding five weekly flights for seven-times daily service Monday to Friday.
Categories: Westjet
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