Westjet's New Destinations

[Flightlevels]

WestJet to add seasonal destinations, routes in summer


2008-12-17 10:24 ET - News Release

Ms. Gillian Bentley reports

HERE WE GROW AGAIN: WESTJET ADDS YELLOWKNIFE, SYDNEY, SAN FRANCISCO AND SAN DIEGO TO ITS EXPANDING NETWORK

WestJet Airlines Ltd. has added four new seasonal destinations, and new seasonal non-stop service to many Canadian and United States cities, as part of its 2009 enhanced summer schedule. The four new destinations expand WestJet's network to 55 cities across Canada, the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean.

New seasonal non-stop service between Edmonton and Yellowknife, and Toronto and Sydney, N.S., begins on May 4 and 5, 2009, respectively. WestJet will also launch new seasonal non-stop service between Calgary and San Diego on June 1, 2009, and between Calgary and San Francisco on June 2, 2009.

"These new destinations, along with expanded service to other Canadian and U.S. cities, are part of our ongoing efforts to bring our world-class guest experience to more and more travellers," said Bob Cummings, WestJet's Executive Vice-President of Guest Experience and Marketing. "Despite a challenging economic climate, we are undeterred in our strategy and will continue to position WestJet to become the market share leader in Canada by 2013.

[twinpratts]

YELLOWKNIFE? Why not Houston!

[hercdvr]

yeah YZF could be a bit of an issue, leaving YEG around 1ish and YZF around 3:30 ish is going to be an issue. They are announcing the times today at a press conference at 1:30 in ZF. Just and odd time of day since all three other companies have morning and evening flights. Anyway overall its a good thing in my opinion, more people comming up and will generate better pricing which will be welcome to the folks in YZF. I heard 150 one-way before taxes which is great for the folks.
Anyone know if JAzz is bringing back the direct YVR again this summer?

[Four1oh]

I have been a big supporter of a YZF flight for a long time. I just hope that time slot doesn't kill it like it helped kill ywg-yth a few years back.

[johnkruk]

YZF already seems like a saturated market, gonna mean big trouble for Firstair and Canadian North. So much compitition for not really that big a market.

[Four1oh]

if I want to fly from yzf-yeg on dec 19th on first air, its $772+surcharges and fees. About 550 NM. Saturated for sure... with ridiculously high fares.

Same date from ywg-yyc (650 nm) worst case fare with only 1-2 seats remaining on the flight is $434. The average fare was about $275.

I know I know, not the same route, but about the same distance, give or take. Just a sample of what WJ will be offering the Yellowknifers. Politics, schmolitics, the dollar is king.

[KAFUFO]

I have been a big supporter of a YZF flight for a long time. I just hope that time slot doesn't kill it like it helped kill ywg-yth a few years back.

didn't boeing have something to say about the ski jump they call a runway in YTH when the NG's came in?

Did any WS pilot's take an NG into that runway?

[Four1oh]

Don't know. Probably not.

[KAFUFO]

I'm pretty sure it had to do with voiding warrenty's on the NG's. I believe they stopped YTH when they retired the last of the 200's (again I'm not on the inside of WS) but when did they stop YTH vs when did they retire the 200's?

[Four1oh]

I'm pretty sure we quit YTH before the retirement of the -200's. I can't believe after all these years they haven't fixed that damn hump.

[Go Guns]

This youtube video places the date of the 200 retirement flyby as January 9th, 2006.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfo7uJeb8VI

WestJet pulled out of Thompson in the fall of 2002 and as far as I know never took the NG up there.

[FICU]

Just a sample of what WJ will be offering the Yellowknifers. Politics, schmolitics, the dollar is king.

We know what they won't be offering...

Hot towels, hot meals, complimentary wine, and more leg room. 7F and 5T are completely different airlines compared to Westjet so it will be interesting to see how the "no frills" approach works but it is sad to see them want to try to push that kind of first class service out of our industry.

The people will decide.

[WS739]

Yes WestJet did operate the NG's out of Thompson, they did a milk run charter flight for Transat. I think it was something like YXS-YTH-CUN.

Not sure exact routing but they did indeed fly into YTH with the NG, might have been -600 but not sure!

[johnkruk]

Westjet is not pushing away first class service, they are just simply providing the service people want, who really needs a hot towel, a meal for an hour and a half flight and they have just as much leg room and TV's at every leather seat. Traveling with them is as much luxury as people need and they are the cheapest which of course is the bottom line!!!

[Troubleshot]

yeah agreed, WestJet has a really good product not to mention probably the best customer service in the biz. They will more than likely steal alot of business up there.

[hercdvr]

yeah agreed, WestJet has a really good product not to mention probably the best customer service in the biz. They will more than likely steal alot of business up there.

The whole point is that there isn't much business to steal. Jazz flies the RJ pretty close to full most of the time, 5T and 7F are flying around a half to maybe 3/4 most of the time, maybe a a little less actually. All three offer Aeroplan. Like I said before its great for competition and the more folks that come to YZF the better, 5T 7F and some smaller carriers will hopefully take some of the folks to farther points north. A lot of people don't fly up here as visitors due to the high cost. I'm sure Jazz, 5T and 7F will match fares or maybe not time will tell.
The big issue for me is the times WJ are comming in on. Not the most user friendly for the pax, that being said WJ is the best in my opinion in generating more sales and getting more people flying, maybe with some tweaking of the times might help in the future. Anyway I say bring it on, the more the merrier. This route for both airlines in my opinion is the least of the moneymakers for both airlines. Lets face it, the bulk of 5T's and 7F's noethern and eastern routes are where they focus their operations not YEG-YZF. So like I said bring on WJ get more people comming up, what the hell.

[Hoov]

I wonder if they had much of a choice for the time, it is super busy when all three leave within minutes of each other, not to mention parking.

[Troubleshot]

yeah agreed, WestJet has a really good product not to mention probably the best customer service in the biz. They will more than likely steal alot of business up there.

The whole point is that there isn't much business to steal. Jazz flies the RJ pretty close to full most of the time, 5T and 7F are flying around a half to maybe 3/4 most of the time, maybe a a little less actually. All three offer Aeroplan. Like I said before its great for competition and the more folks that come to YZF the better, 5T 7F and some smaller carriers will hopefully take some of the folks to farther points north. A lot of people don't fly up here as visitors due to the high cost. I'm sure Jazz, 5T and 7F will match fares or maybe not time will tell.
The big issue for me is the times WJ are coming in on. Not the most user friendly for the pax, that being said WJ is the best in my opinion in generating more sales and getting more people flying, maybe with some tweaking of the times might help in the future. Anyway I say bring it on, the more the merrier. This route for both airlines in my opinion is the least of the moneymakers for both airlines. Lets face it, the bulk of 5T's and 7F's northern and eastern routes are where they focus their operations not YEG-YZF. So like I said bring on WJ get more people coming up, what the hell.

True enough, it will be an interesting venture for WestJet for sure...That being said they are really good at getting into new-to-them markets and alot of people that fly into Edmonton regularly have most certainly enjoyed WestJets service at one point or another so there could be a bunch of people that can't wait for them to start.

[hercdvr]

CBC North's website is reporting that 5T just lowered their fares to 100 one way plus tax to YEg and 150 to YYC, and JAZZ has a one way fare of 149. No change yet for 7F. just an FYI, either way it will be interesting for sure.

[Hoov]

If you want to travel this summer is the time to do it, was pricing it out and you can almost go anywhere for $600-$700 dollars. $520 taxes included to Victoria on Westjet, wow. Sounds like it will be even cheaper if you take Canadian North and then switch on WJ or AC.

[FICU]

Westjet is not pushing away first class service, they are just simply providing the service people want, who really needs a hot towel, a meal for an hour and a half flight and they have just as much leg room and TV's at every leather seat. Traveling with them is as much luxury as people need and they are the cheapest which of course is the bottom line!!!

I deadhead on AC, WJ, and 5T all the time and 5T -200Cs have the most comfortable non business class seats by far... not only more leg room but a longer bottom seat for the thighs. People I have met traveling on 5T from all over the globe end up saying that the flight to YZF in the -200 is by far the highlight of their journey with the best inflight service both in terms of food and customer service.... after connecting from AC or WJ in YEG.

[Liftdump]

Hopefully orange pop doesnt stain leather.

[Huge Hammer]

The NG did in fact go into yth from ywg on a sched basis, not just a charter.

[FICU]

Rumor has it that the new YZF run is due to not having enough work for the amount of tin as the fleet grows so running into an already over saturated market seems like a desperate move to many.

[Four1oh]

Rumor has it that the new YZF run is due to not having enough work for the amount of tin as the fleet grows so running into an already over saturated market seems like a desperate move to many.

Really? I don't think so, They've been talking about YZF for over a year now. Same with Whitehorse and Anchorage. All part of the plan.