CALGARY, June 29, 2016 /CNW/ - Today, WestJet becomes the only Canadian carrier to serve Halifax non-stop from Vancouver and Winnipeg. The inaugural flight from Vancouver to Halifax launches today and flights from Winnipeg to Halifax begin July 2, 2016. Both of these seasonal, direct flights have been timed to connect conveniently to WestJet's Halifax and Vancouver hubs from its extensive domestic network.
"We're proud to be the only carrier in Canada offering travellers in Vancouver, Winnipeg and Halifax these convenient options for travel this summer," said Bob Cummings, WestJet Executive Vice-President, Commercial. "The Vancouver to Halifax flights as well as the additional capacity we bring out of Winnipeg will benefit both our business and our leisure guests. Just ahead of Canada Day, WestJet is extremely proud to once again offer our low-fare, high-care service to connect communities and economies across the country."
"We are delighted WestJet has added new non-stop seasonal service to Winnipeg and Vancouver," said Joyce Carter, Halifax International Airport Authority President and CEO. "We are confident business and leisure travellers in all three cities will welcome this convenient access. The Halifax-Vancouver service is currently the longest non-stop domestic route in Canada. We congratulate WestJet once again for increasing service here at Halifax Stanfield and demonstrating their confidence in our region."
WestJet now offers 23 daily flights on 13 routes from Halifax Stanfield International Airport. Since 2005, the airline has accounted for almost 90 per cent of the capacity growth out of Halifax.
Overall, WestJet's guests in Atlantic Canada have a total of 34 non-stop routes and 24 different WestJet destinations to choose from. WestJet has tripled its capacity out of this region in the last 10 years and now accounts for 75 per cent of the capacity growth of all of the airlines that serve the Atlantic provinces.
"We're thrilled to welcome this new, non-stop service between Vancouver and Halifax – the only flight between these two great summer destinations," said Craig Richmond, President and CEO, Vancouver Airport Authority. "In addition to local traffic, WestJet travellers can connect to or from the airline's extensive west coast network or onto flights operated by 14 of WestJet's codeshare partners – all under the same terminal roof. With this new WestJet flight, YVR instantly becomes the most convenient connecting hub between Halifax and the Asia-Pacific region."
WestJet now offers 65 daily flights on 35 non-stop routes from Vancouver International Airport to 100 WestJet destinations. Overall, WestJet has increased its capacity in the region by more than 80 per cent in the last 10 years and now accounts for 26 per cent of the capacity growth of all airlines that service the Vancouver International Airport.
"Providing our community with convenient travel across a range of desired destinations serves their needs and is an ongoing priority for us," said Pascal Bélanger, Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer of Winnipeg Airports Authority. "Not only will Haligonians be able to explore our culture-rich community because of this direct non-stop route, but travellers from our region will also have a relaxing journey to one of Canada's most beautiful cities."
By mid-summer, WestJet will offer 30 daily flights on 21 non-stop routes from Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport.
Details of new service:
| Route |
Frequency |
Departs |
Arrives |
Effective |
| Vancouver – Halifax |
Four times weekly |
9:00 p.m. |
6:34 a.m. +1 |
June 29 – September 3, 2016 |
| Halifax – Vancouver |
Four times weekly |
7:25 a.m. |
9:46 a.m. |
June 30 – September 4, 2016 |
| Winnipeg – Halifax |
Four times weekly |
12:30 a.m. |
6:00 a.m. |
July 2 – September 6, 2016 |
| Four times weekly |
9:30 p.m. |
11:26 p.m. |
July 1 – September 5, 2016 |
About WestJet
We are proud to be Canada's highest-rated airline for customer service, powered by an award-winning culture of care and recognized as one of the country's top employers. We offer scheduled service to 100 destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe. Through our regional airline, WestJet Encore, and with partnerships with airlines representing every major region of the world, we offer our guests more than 150 destinations in more than 20 countries. Leveraging WestJet's extensive network, flight schedule and remarkable guest experience, WestJet Vacations delivers affordable, flexible travel experiences with a variety of accommodation options for every guest. Members of our WestJet Rewards program earn WestJet dollars on flights, vacation packages and more. Our members use WestJet dollars towards the purchase of WestJet flights and vacations packages on any day, at any time, to any WestJet destination with no blackout periods ̶ even on seat sales. For more information about everything WestJet, please visit westjet.com.
Recent recognition includes:
2015/2011/2010/2008/2007/2006/2005 Canada's Most Admired Corporate Culture (Waterstone Human Capital)
2015 Best Employers in Canada (Aon Hewitt)
2015/2014/2013 WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard ranked #1 in Canada (MoneySense magazine)
2014/2013 WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard ranked #1 in the Canada's Choice ranking (RewardsCanada.ca)
2014 Interbrand Canada's Best Canadian Brands (Rank #20)
2014 Brands of the Year (Strategy magazine)
2014 Canada's Most Preferred Airline (Ipsos)
2014 Value Airline of the Year (Air Transport World magazine)
2014/2013/2012 Canada's Most Attractive Employer (Randstad)
2014/2013/2012/2011 Highest equity score: airline, vacation package supplier brands (Harris/Decima EquiTrend Study)
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SOURCE WestJet
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