Airline announces 35 per cent increase in flights
to YYG with new non-stop service connecting Prince Edward Island to Western Canada
CALGARY, Jan. 17, 2020 /CNW/ - WestJet today is
bridging new domestic connections between the east and the west
with the introduction of new non-stop seasonal service between
Charlottetown, P.E.I., and
Calgary beginning June 25, 2020.
"As the official airline of Destination Canada's domestic
tourism campaign, we are proud to invest in this historic new
connection," said Charles Duncan,
WestJet Chief Strategy Officer. "Our partners in both P.E.I and
Alberta are excited with the
opportunity this service represents as both have a new opportunity
to market their world-class tourism assets. This flight is a unique
opportunity for Canadians looking to explore our country."
WestJet's seasonal service between Charlottetown Airport (YYG)
and Calgary International Airport
(YYC) will operate four-times weekly on WestJet's 737 aircraft.
Flights are timed for convenient connectivity from WestJet's
largest hub in Calgary to
destinations across Western Canada
including Vancouver, Edmonton, Kelowna and Victoria. The seasonal flight concludes
September 7, 2020.
"This is a wonderful announcement for both Islanders who live
here and Islanders living out west who, in their heart, still call
Prince Edward Island home," said
Premier Dennis King. "This direct
flight between P.E.I and Alberta
will further strengthen our relationship with Western Canada, opening up new markets for our
business community and encouraging more visitors from western
North America to explore our
Island."
WestJet has served Prince Edward
Island and the city of Charlottetown since 2005 and flights have more
than doubled since introducing service. This summer, the airline
will offer more than 67,000 seats to YYG, an increase of more than
20,000 from last year and in peak season will operate up to 20
flights per week from Charlottetown to Toronto and Calgary.
By June 2020 from Calgary, WestJet's hub and home, the airline
will operate more than 1000 flights per week in peak season to 57
destinations out of Calgary
International Airport. More Calgarians choose WestJet for their air
travel than any other airline.
Details of WestJet's service between Charlottetown and Calgary:
Route
|
Frequency
|
Departing
|
Arriving
|
Effective
|
Calgary-
Charlottetown
|
Four-times
weekly
|
10:45 p.m.
|
6:23 a.m.
(+1)
|
June 25 -
Sept. 7, 2020
|
Charlottetown-
Calgary
|
Four-times
weekly
|
7:15 a.m.
|
9:33 a.m.
|
June 26 -
Sept. 7,
2020
|
Additional Quotes:
"These additional flights are
excellent news for the people of Prince
Edward Island," said Minister Lawrence MacAulay, Member of Parliament for
Cardigan. "With record levels of tourism to the island, and a
recent investment of $8.1 million
into the Charlottetown Airport by the federal government, we
understand the importance of increasing capacity for travel. I'm
glad to see WestJet making it easier for Canadians to come
experience our great province."
"As the Birthplace of Confederation, Charlottetown has a lot to offer visitors. We
are pleased to see this announcement from WestJet," said
Charlottetown Mayor Philip Brown. "This new connection will not only
bring new opportunities for tourism and business, but will offer up
a new way to reconnect Island families with loved ones in
Western Canada."
"This is obviously fantastic news, there has always been a
strong connection between P.E.I and Alberta, with many Islanders calling the
western province home," said Doug
Newson, CEO at YYG. "We are delighted that WestJet will be
offering this service giving many Albertans the opportunity to
vacation to our beautiful island and for Islanders to access
stunning Western Canada through
WestJet's Calgary hub."
"We are delighted our guests will be able to fly direct from YYC
to Prince Edward Island this
summer. From red-sand beaches, lighthouses and legendary vistas to
its world-renowned seafood and agriculture there is so much to see
and do in P.E.I. We're also happy Islanders can visit our region,
or connect through WestJet's impressive hub at YYC," said
Bob Sartor, President and CEO, The
Calgary Airport Authority.
"With this new flight connecting Calgary and Prince
Edward Island, WestJet continues to help us showcase
everything Calgary has to offer to
Canadian travellers," says Cindy
Ady, Tourism Calgary CEO. "Additional direct routes also
support the economic impact of tourism, which directly contributes
over $2 billion to Calgary's economy each year. We are very eager
to share Calgary with guests from
P.E.I."
About WestJet
Together with WestJet's regional airlines, WestJet Encore and
WestJet Link, we offer scheduled service to more than 110
destinations in North America,
Central America, the Caribbean and Europe and to more than 250 destinations in
over 20 countries through our airline partnerships. WestJet
Vacations offers affordable, flexible vacations to more than 60
destinations and the choice of more than 800 hotels, resorts,
condos and villas. Members of the WestJet Rewards program
earn WestJet dollars on flights, vacation packages and more.
Members use WestJet dollars towards the purchase of flights and
vacations packages to any WestJet destination with no
blackout periods, and have access to Member Exclusive
fares offering deals to WestJet destinations throughout our
network and those of our partner airlines.
WestJet is proud to be recognized for three consecutive years as
Best Airline in Canada (2017-19)
and awarded among travellers' favourite Mid-Sized Airlines in
North America (2019). From
2017-2018, WestJet was also awarded among travellers' favourite
Mid-Sized and Low-Cost Airlines in North
America. The airline was also recognized among the Economy
Class winners in North America,
2018. All awards are based on authentic reviews from the travelling
public on TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site. We are one
of very few airlines globally that does not commercially
overbook.
For more information about everything WestJet, please
visit westjet.com.
Recent recognition includes:
2019 Swoop - Start-up Airline of the Year (CAPA 2019 Aviation
Awards for Excellence)
2019/2018/2017 Best Airline in Canada (TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards
for Airlines)
2019 Winner Among Mid-Sized Airlines in North America (TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice
awards for Airlines)
2019 Number-One Ranked Canadian Airline Loyalty Program in Member
Engagement (Bond Brand Loyalty)
2019/2018 Number-One-Ranked Airline Credit Card in Canada (Rewards Canada)
2018/2017 Winner Among Mid-Sized and Low Cost Airlines –
North America (TripAdvisor
Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines)
2018 Winner – Economy, North
America (TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for
Airlines)
2018 North America's Best Low-Cost
Airline (Skytrax)
2018/2017/2016 Canada's Most
Trusted Airline (Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria)
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SOURCE WESTJET, an Alberta Partnership