WestJet to serve Lethbridge, Lloydminster, Medicine Hat, Cranbrook and Prince
George via a capacity purchase agreement with Pacific
Coastal Airlines
CALGARY, Nov. 24, 2017 /CNW/ - WestJet today introduced
WestJet Link, a new regional air service operating under a capacity
purchase agreement (CPA) with Pacific Coastal Airlines.
Using Pacific Coastal Airlines' aircraft painted in WestJet
colours, WestJet Link will connect the communities of Lethbridge, Lloydminster, Medicine Hat, Cranbrook and Prince
George to WestJet's rapidly expanding network hub at the YYC
Calgary International Airport. These new routes will add to
WestJet's existing leadership position in Calgary, offering more flights and seats to
more destinations than any other airline.
All WestJet Link flights will be operated by Pacific Coastal
using its fleet of 34-seat Saab 340B aircraft. Each aircraft will
include six seats available in WestJet Plus, offering guests
advanced boarding, no-charge for two checked bags and seating at
the front of the aircraft.
Details of WestJet's new year-round nonstop service:
Route
|
Frequency
|
Days*
|
Effective
|
Calgary –
Lethbridge
|
Three
times
|
Daily
|
March 7,
2018
|
Calgary –
Lloydminster
|
Once
|
Daily
|
March 14,
2018
|
Calgary – Medicine
Hat
|
Three
times
|
Daily
|
May 31,
2018
|
Calgary –
Cranbrook
|
Three
times
|
Daily
|
March 7,
2018
|
Calgary – Prince
George
|
Once
|
Daily
|
March 14,
2018
|
*
|
Reduced frequency
on weekends and some holidays
|
Introductory one-way fares to/from Calgary are available starting from:
Departing
|
Arriving
|
Air transportation
charges (ATC)
|
Taxes, fees
and charges
|
Total one-way
price from*
|
Base fare
from
|
Other
ATC
|
Lethbridge
|
Calgary
|
$60.00
|
$12.00
|
$26.83
|
$98.83
|
Calgary
|
Lethbridge
|
$60.00
|
$12.00
|
$42.58
|
$114.58
|
Lloydminster
|
Calgary
|
$87.00
|
$12.00
|
$12.43
|
$111.43
|
Calgary
|
Lloydminster
|
$87.00
|
$12.00
|
$43.93
|
$142.93
|
Medicine
Hat
|
Calgary
|
$75.00
|
$12.00
|
$11.83
|
$98.83
|
Calgary
|
Medicine
Hat
|
$75.00
|
$12.00
|
$43.33
|
$130.33
|
Cranbrook
|
Calgary
|
$64.00
|
$12.00
|
$22.83
|
$98.83
|
Calgary
|
Cranbrook
|
$64.00
|
$12.00
|
$42.78
|
$118.78
|
Prince
George
|
Calgary
|
$69.00
|
$12.00
|
$37.78
|
$118.78
|
Calgary
|
Prince
George
|
$69.00
|
$12.00
|
$43.03
|
$124.03
|
*
|
Book by December 4,
2017 (11:59 p.m. MT) for travel between March 7 & June 27,
2018. For Medicine Hat travel from May 31 – June 27, 2018. Blackout
dates apply. Visit westjet.com/flight-schedules-new for more
information.
|
For today only, connecting one-way fares to/from Toronto are available at special prices with
limited quantities for the new additions to the WestJet
network:
Departing
|
Arriving
|
Air transportation
charges (ATC)
|
Taxes, fees
and charges
|
Total one-way
price from*
|
Seats
Available
|
Base fare
from
|
Other
ATC
|
Lethbridge
|
Toronto
|
$97.00
|
$23.00
|
$29.23
|
$149.23
|
500
|
Toronto
|
Lethbridge
|
$97.00
|
$23.00
|
$51.90
|
$171.90
|
500
|
Lloydminster
|
Toronto
|
$112.00
|
$23.00
|
$14.23
|
$149.23
|
200
|
Toronto
|
Lloydminster
|
$112.00
|
$23.00
|
$53.85
|
$188.85
|
200
|
Medicine
Hat
|
Toronto
|
$112.00
|
$23.00
|
$14.23
|
$149.23
|
500
|
Toronto
|
Medicine
Hat
|
$112.00
|
$23.00
|
$53.85
|
$188.85
|
500
|
Cranbrook
|
Toronto
|
$101.00
|
$23.00
|
$25.23
|
$149.23
|
500
|
Toronto
|
Cranbrook
|
$101.00
|
$23.00
|
$52.42
|
$176.42
|
500
|
*
|
Book by November 24,
2017 (11:59 p.m. MT) for travel between March 7 & June 27,
2018. For Medicine Hat travel from May 31 – June 27, 2018. Blackout
dates apply. Visit westjet.com/flight-schedules-new for more
information.
|
QUOTES
"A CPA with Pacific Coastal underscores
WestJet's commitment to offering more Canadians access to WestJet's
low fares and growing network. WestJet Link will be that connection
to these communities and will offer more choice and more
competition for air travellers, as well as more opportunities to
earn and use WestJet Rewards."
Ed Sims, WestJet Executive
Vice-President, Commercial
"All of us at Pacific Coastal Airlines are excited and proud to
be entering this relationship with WestJet. Our two airlines, both
based in Western Canada, share
many similar corporate and guest service values and we feel that
this CPA is a perfect partnership to link many new communities to
the WestJet network."
Quentin Smith, President, Pacific
Coastal Airlines
"This new partnership between WestJet and Pacific Coastal will
allow smaller communities within Alberta and British
Columbia to take advantage of YYC's extensive route network.
Bringing in new passengers from these communities provides more
opportunities to support additional long-haul destinations and
contributes greatly to WestJet's growth strategy out of YYC."
Bob Sartor, President and CEO for
The Calgary Airport Authority
"Today's announcement represents a milestone that we've been
striving towards for years. This partnership between two great
companies, WestJet and Pacific Coastal Airlines, is a best case
scenario allowing for the right-size aircraft, providing high
frequency and timely connections to Calgary and WestJet's international network.
In addition, we are pleased to announce we will reduce our Airport
Improvement Fee in Cranbrook to
four dollars for all flights booked
on or after December 1, 2017, for
travel on or after March 7, 2018.
Welcome WestJet, you will soon see just how delighted we are to
have you operating in the Kootenays."
Tristen Chernove, CEO, Elevate
Airports
"This is very exciting news for the City of Cranbrook and surrounding
communities. Residents from the East and West Kootenay have
been waiting for years for WestJet connections to Calgary giving access to destinations around
the world. This also opens up the world with easier access to
the Kootenays. Pacific Coastal has been a great supporter of the
Canadian Rockies International Airport and this solidifies their
other routes with us. We will put concentrated effort into
encouraging the public to take advantage of this added
service."
Lee Pratt, Mayor of Cranbrook
"Lethbridge County is pleased with WestJet's decision to serve
the Lethbridge Airport beginning in March
2018. The daily flights to Calgary will provide additional and convenient
access for business and leisure travellers, further solidifying the
Airport as a thriving air service centre. Calgary is a hub for travel around the globe,
and with flights to and from the Lethbridge Airport this service
will provide Southern Alberta yet
another opportunity to access a gateway to the world. As we work
toward growing the Airport and its services, this announcement will
help us to achieve that goal."
Lorne Hickey, Reeve of Lethbridge
County
"Today's announcement is very welcome news. Enhanced air service
is something residents and the business community in Lethbridge have been requesting for a long
time. Lethbridge is continuing to
be noticed on a provincial and national scale for being a great
place to live and do business, and enhanced air service was a
previously missing piece of the puzzle."
Chris Spearman, Lethbridge Mayor
"The City of Lloydminster is
elated to welcome WestJet to the Lloydminster region and we look forward to the
many social and economic benefits linked to enhanced services at
our municipal airport. In recent years, the City has invested in a
number of modifications at our airport and we are confident WestJet
will find our facility a comfortable and effective location from
which to serve guests."
Gerald Aalbers, Lloydminster Mayor
"Having WestJet providing service from the Lloydminster Airport
is a big win for our airport and our region. We have a fantastic
staff operating and maintaining this facility and it has long been
our shared vision to attract an internationally esteemed carrier
such as WestJet."
Wade Frasz, Lloydminster Airport
Manager
"We are excited to have WestJet offer direct service from
Medicine Hat to Calgary. The City has been committed to
increasing air service offerings to our residents, businesses and
visitors. In our efforts to promote economic development and
tourism, we've upgraded the airport terminal and apron and will
continue to upgrade runways to make air travel more convenient and
enjoyable."
Ted Clugston, Medicine Hat Mayor
"We are very excited to have non-stop service between
Prince George and Calgary again with service provided by WestJet
and Pacific Coastal Airlines, both Prince George Airport partners.
Calgary is the number one unserved
market requested by the greater Prince
George community."
John Gibson, President and CEO of
the Prince George Airport Authority
Pacific Coastal Airlines
A privately owned,
British Columbia-based regional
airline operating from Vancouver
International Airport's South Terminal (YVR), Pacific Coastal is
the third largest airline at YVR in annual takeoffs and landings.
It flies to 15 airports and connects to more than 50 destinations
in the province, from as far east as Cranbrook in the Rocky Mountains and as far
north as Prince George and
Masset on the legendary island of
Haida Gwaii.
About WestJet
WestJet is proud to be named Best
Airline in Canada and one of the
best Low Cost Airlines in North
America, based on authentic reviews from the travelling
public on Trip Advisor, the world's largest travel site. We are one
of very few airlines globally that does not commercially overbook.
Together with our regional airline, WestJet Encore, we offer
scheduled service to more than 100 destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe and to more than 175 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 publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX)
under the symbol WJA. For more information about everything
WestJet, please visit westjet.com.
Recent recognition includes:
2017
Five-Star Airline in the Low-Cost Category (The Airline Passenger
Experience Association)
2017/2016 Canada's Most Trusted
Airline (Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria)
2017 Best Airline in Canada and
Travellers' Choice Winner Mid-Sized and Low Cost Airlines –
North America (TripAdvisor
Travelers' Choice awards for Airlines)
2016 Canada's most reputable
company for Corporate Social Responsibility (Reputation
Institute)
2016/2015/2014/2013/2012 Ranked top three for Canadian Brands
(Canadian Business Magazine)
2016/2015/2014/2013 WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard ranked #1 in
Canada (MoneySense magazine)
2015/2011/2010/2008/2007/2006/2005 Canada's Most Admired Corporate Culture
(Waterstone Human Capital)
2015 Best Employers in Canada
(Aon Hewitt)
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SOURCE WestJet