WestJet Boosts Winter Schedule with Three New Destinations, 10 New Routes

Canadian carrier WestJet is featuring three new destinations, 10 new routes and expanded service on more than 30 other routes in its winter schedule for 2010-2011.

Beginning in November, WestJet will launch seasonal, non-stop service to New Orleans, Santa Clara in Cuba and Grand Cayman Island from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport.

WestJet will also launch new seasonal, non-stop service to Montego Bay, Jamaica from Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Regina and Montreal (all subject to Jamaican government approval); to Varadero, Cuba from Calgary and Montreal; and to Palm Springs, California from Toronto.

Additionally, WestJet will extend its non-stop service from seasonal-basis-only to year-round between Ottawa and Halifax; Ottawa and Vancouver; Toronto and Bermuda; Toronto and Samana in the Dominican Republic; Toronto and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; and Montreal and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

Seen in this photograph is a Boeing 737-700 of Canadian low-cost leader WestJet. The airline operates only Boeing 737NGs and the flexibility of its new fleet plan will allow the airline to have anywhere from 112 to 135 aircraft in its fleet by the end of 2016

This winter WestJet will also increase the number of seasonal non-stop flights it operates from Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal to destinations such as Honolulu, Maui, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas.

“This winter schedule is a measured, balanced and strategic approach to domestic, trans-border and international growth,” says Hugh Dunleavy, WestJet’s executive vice-president, strategy and planning. “Along with our high-value frequent guest program we launched in March, additional service to and from Ottawa expands upon our growing business travel offering. And the introduction of new southern destinations from more Canadian gateways offers our guests more choices for their winter vacations.”

Adds Dunleavy: “We are also pleased to announce seasonal, non-stop service to three new destinations from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. Our valued relationship with the Greater Toronto Airports Authority is a key building block to our ongoing, strategic approach to growth from Toronto.”

WestJet’s new four-times-weekly service between Toronto and New Orleans will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays from November 1. It is timed to depart Pearson International Airport (YYZ) at 9:30 a.m. and arrive at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) at 11:30 a.m. (all times local). The return flight is scheduled to leave MSY at 12:15 p.m. and reach YYZ at 3:55 p.m. WestJet is offering introductory fares of C$139 plus taxes, fees and surcharges on the route.

Its three-times-weekly Toronto-Grand Cayman service will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from November 4. It is scheduled to leave YYZ at 9:40 a.m. and land at Grand Cayman Island’s Owen Roberts International Airport (GCM) at1:45 p.m. local time, The return flight is timed to depart GCM at 2:35 p.m. and arrive at YYZ at 6:30 p.m. WestJet is offering introductory fares of C$189 plus taxes and fees.

The airline will operate a weekly flight on Fridays between Toronto and Santa Clara in Cuba, from November 5. The flight is scheduled to leave YYZ at 9:45 a.m. and land at Santa Clara’s Abel Santamaría Airport (SNU) at 1:25 p.m. local time. The return flight is timed to depart SNU at 2:25 p.m. and reach YYZ at 5:59 p.m. WestJet is offering introductory fares of C$149 plus taxes and fees on the route.

WestJet wll operate its Vancouver-Montego Bay flight once a week on Tuesdays from November 2. The flight will depart Vancouver International Airport (YVR) at 7:00 a.m. and reach Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport (MBJ) at 4:44 p.m. local time. The return flight will leave MBJ at 5:35 p.m. and reach YVR at 10:37 p.m. local time. The airline is offering everyday fares of C$299 plus taxes and fees.

For more on WestJet’s 2010-2011 winter schedule, see Page 2