WestJet puts Portland and Austin on Alberta's map

Airline expands travel options between the U.S. and Western Canada

CALGARY, Jan. 28, 2019 /CNW/ - Building on WestJet's position as Calgary's largest air carrier, the airline is introducing two new seasonal U.S. destinations this summer from YYC.

Daily non-stop service to Portland, Ore., begins April 29, while twice-weekly service to Austin, Texas begins on May 2.

An unrecognizable man commuting across the St John's Bridge in an urban city environment. He travels on his street bicycle into the city over the Saint John's Bridge. No face visible. Horizontal with copy space. (CNW Group/WESTJET, an Alberta Partnership)

Aerial view of Capitol building in Austin the Capital of Texas. (CNW Group/WESTJET, an Alberta Partnership)

"We're thrilled to welcome the cities of Portland and Austin to the WestJet network," said Arved von zur Muehlen, WestJet Chief Commercial Officer. "Including Atlanta, which starts on March 3, these three key markets help diversify Alberta's economy, open new trade links and forge stronger connections between Alberta and these major destinations. We look forward to connecting friends, families and economies across the country and world this summer."

The new routes are part of WestJet's 2019 summer schedule, which includes previously announced non-stop flights to London (Gatwick), Paris and Dublin from Calgary on its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners along with new non-stop service from Calgary to Atlanta, Ga.

"A love of the great outdoors is shared by Calgary and Central Texans," said Jim Smith, Executive Director, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. "We look forward to those in Calgary enjoying Austin style fun and we thank WestJet for connecting us to fun in a cooler climate."

"We're pleased to welcome WestJet to the PDX family," said David Zielke, Director of Air Service Development, Portland International Airport. "The airline's daily nonstop service to Calgary offers Portland and southwest Washington travellers another convenient connection to Canada."

"We are extremely happy WestJet is adding these two U.S. destinations at YYC Calgary International Airport this spring," said Bob Sartor, President and CEO, The Calgary Airport Authority. "The routes will allow our guests to explore two exciting cities in the United States." 

"Calgary thrives as a city because of our connections to the world and stronger ties to leading cities in Texas and the West Coast means more opportunities for business and tourism," said Mary Moran, President and CEO, Calgary Economic Development. "As a leading business centre in Canada, we applaud WestJet for its continued investment in Calgary and for adding direct air service to great cities like Austin and Portland that will create even more opportunities for people and companies to connect."

Route	Frequency	Departing	Arriving	Effective
Calgary – Portland	Daily	10:30 a.m	11:17 a.m	April 29, 2019
Portland – Calgary	Daily	12:10 p.m	2:57 p.m	April. 29, 2019
Calgary – Austin	Twice Weekly	10 a.m	2:43 p.m	May 2, 2019
Austin – Calgary	Twice Weekly	3:35 p.m	6:31 p.m	May 2, 2019

WestJet will also increase service on the following routes from Calgary:

• Calgary-Houston, from 12 weekly flights to 13 weekly flights.
• Calgary-London (Gatwick), adding two weekly flights with daily Dreamliner service.
• Calgary-Orlando, from once weekly to twice weekly.
• Calgary-Phoenix, will double service from once daily to twice daily.
• Calgary-Puerto Vallarta, from three times weekly to four times weekly.
• Calgary-San Diego, from three times weekly to four times weekly.
• Calgary-San Francisco, will double service from once daily to twice daily.
• Calgary-Kitchener, from seven weekly flights to eight weekly flights.

Other highlights of WestJet's 2019 summer schedule include:

• New non-stop three times weekly service between Edmonton and St. John's.
• Toronto-Nashville, from seven weekly flights to 10 weekly flights.
• Toronto-Grand Cayman, will double service from once weekly to twice weekly.
• Toronto-Kingston, from three weekly flights to four times weekly.
• Toronto-Liberia, will double service from once weekly to twice weekly.
• Toronto-Montego Bay, from 11 weekly flights to 12 weekly flights.
• Toronto-Nassau from six to seven times weekly.
• Toronto-Saint Maarten, will double service from once weekly to twice weekly.
• Toronto-Halifax, adding five weekly flights for seven-times daily service Monday to Friday.
• Toronto-Charlottetown, adding two weekly flights.
• Halifax-Winnipeg, from four weekly flights to five times weekly.
• Toronto-London, from two times daily to three times daily.
• Extension of existing once weekly winter seasonal service between Vancouver and Orlando.

This summer, WestJet will operate over 750 daily flights in peak summer to 92 destinations including 42 in Canada, 23 in the United States, 27 in Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America, and five in Europe.

For more information on new routes and increased frequencies in WestJet's 2019 summer schedule, please visit westjet.com/flight-schedules-new

About WestJet
Together with WestJet's 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 proud to be recognized as Best Airline in Canada and Travellers' Choice winner – North America for 2017 and 2018 in the TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines. The airline was also named the Travellers' Choice Winner – Economy, 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.

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:
2018 Number-One-Ranked Airline Credit Card in Canada (Rewards Canada) 
2018 North America's Best Low-Cost Airline (Skytrax)
2018/2017 Best Airline in Canada and Travellers' Choice Winner Mid-Sized and Low Cost Airlines – North America (TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines)
2018 Travellers' Choice Winner – Economy, North America (TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines)
2018/2017/2016 Canada's Most Trusted Airline (Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria)
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)

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SOURCE WESTJET, an Alberta Partnership

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