WestJet Network to Add Four New Routes in Winter Schedule

As its new regional-airline subsidiary WestJet Encore grows, WestJet is adding four new non-stop routes, two new year-round routes and increased frequency on 29 existing routes as part of its 2013-2014 winter schedule.

WestJet Encore is adding three new Canadian domestic routes, while WestJet itself is launching a seasonal Calgary-Miami service.

A WestJet Boeing 737-800 taxis in towards its gate at Toronto Pearson International Airport’s Terminal 3

Other Canadian domestic routes will see enhanced service frequency in WestJet’s next winter schedule, as will routes to several popular sun destinations. The latter include Manzanillo and Ixtapa in Mexico, Providenciales in the Turks & Caicos Islands, Varadero in Cuba and Hewanorra International Airport on St. Lucia.

“Our newest schedule reflects the popularity of many domestic and international destinations and the demand for more frequency,” says Chris Avery, WestJet’s vice-president, network planning, alliances and corporate development.

“With the continued expansion and growth of WestJet Encore, we have been able to increase our domestic frequency on existing routes while adding more flights to our most popular trans-border and international destinations,” says Avery. ‘Our guests are voting with their feet and booking these destinations with greater consistency, so we intend to give them as many options as we can when it comes to flying with WestJet.”

WestJet added another level of commitment to its expected order for Bombardier Q400 NextGen turboprops on June 28, 2012, when the Calgary-based airline turned its previous letter of intent for 20 aircraft into a conditional order for 20, and conditionally took options on 25 more. WestJet eventually finalized the deal and the first of WestJet Encore’s 20 Q400NextGens was delivered in early 2013

WestJet Encore is adding new non-stop routes to the network with flights between Winnipeg and Saskatoon, Winnipeg and Regina and between Vancouver and Kamloops in British Columbia.

Meanwhile, WestJet Encore is increasing service frequencies on existing routes between Calgary and Kamloops; Edmonton and Saskatoon; Edmonton and Regina; and Edmonton and Grande Prairie in Alberta. The WestJet Encore operated route between Vancouver and Victoria will also increase in frequency for the winter schedule.

Beginning October 27, WestJet moves from seasonal to daily year-round service between Toronto and Fort McMurray in Alberta and three-time weekly service between Toronto and Deer Lake in Newfoundland.

A WestJet Boeing 737-700 taxis out from its Terminal 3 gate at Toronto Pearson International Airport

Popular U.S. destinations will also see an increase in service with the new non-stop route between Calgary and Miami and more service frequency between Calgary and Phoenix, Calgary and San Diego, Calgary and Orlando, and between Kelowna and Phoenix.

WestJet Encore will operate the new Winnipeg-Saskatoon route twice daily on weekdays, and daily on weekend days, from February 15 until the end of the new winter schedule on April 26, 2014.

The regional carrier will serve the Winnipeg-Regina route twice daily on weekdays and daily on weekend days from January 15 through April 26.

According to Bombardier Commercial Aircraft, the Q400 NextGen turboprop is particularly suited to operations in the robust Canadian and U.S. landscape, where temperatures and climatic conditions can display extreme variation, sometimes within a short period of time

On its new Vancouver-Kamloops route, WestJet Encore will operate a daily round-trip from November 25 until April 26.

WestJet will operate its new seasonal Calgary-Miami route four times a week, on Mondays, Thursdays, Friday and Saturdays, from October 28 through December 14. From December 16, service frequency goes up to six times a week (Sunday being the only day without service) until April 26.

“Increased frequency is the direct result of a more flexible, optimized fleet and strong results on many of our pre-existing routes from both a business and leisure market perspective,” says Avery. “As long as the demand continues to grow, we intend to meet that demand both domestically and internationally.”