News Releases
Airline unveils largest single-season expansion in company's history
CALGARY, July 8 /CNW/ - WestJet today unveiled its largest-ever seasonal non-stop flight schedule, featuring a record eight new international destinations and three additional U.S. destinations for the winter of 2009-2010.
By late fall 2009, WestJet will operate service to 66 cities in more than 10 countries, as compared to 51 cities in eight countries one year ago.
Beginning in late fall, WestJet and WestJet Vacations will launch seasonal non-stop service to Varadero, Holguin and Cayo Coco, Cuba; Ixtapa and Cozumel, Mexico; St. Martin; Providenciales, Turks and Caicos; Freeport, Bahamas; Lihue (Kauai), Hawaii; Miami, Florida; and Atlantic City, New Jersey.
"This is another first for WestJet," said Chris Avery, WestJet's Vice-President, Revenue and Planning. "We have never announced as many destinations at one time, which demonstrates that we continue to deliver on our strategic plan by expanding our network and providing our world-class guest experience each and every day. We remain confident that in spite of the current economic conditions, WestJet's unsurpassed value and our status as Canada's preferred airline will see old friends and new guests alike flying with us this winter."
This new schedule also includes new, year-round service between Edmonton and Yellowknife and between Calgary and San Diego. WestJet launched both routes on a seasonal basis in May.
<<
The following is a list of WestJet's new routes for the winter of
2009-2010:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Route Start Date Frequency Days Arr/Dep
Times
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Montreal - Las Vegas December 17, five times Monday, Outbound
Introductory fares 2009 weekly Tuesday, 09:45/12:23
starting at $189 Thursday, Return
Friday, 13:15/21:08
Sunday
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ottawa - Montego Bay November 6, once Friday Outbound
Introductory fares 2009 weekly 09:15/13:47
starting at $199 Return
14:45/18:58
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ottawa - Punta Cana November 7, once Saturday Outbound
Introductory fares 2009 weekly 07:00/12:23
starting at $199 Return
13:10/16:52
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Toronto - Atlantic October 22, daily Outbound
City 2009 19:00/20:29
Introductory fares Return
starting at $79 21:15/22:52
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Toronto - Cayo Coco November 4, twice Wednesday, Outbound
(operated by WestJet 2009 weekly Saturday 10:05/13:45
on behalf of WestJet Return
Vacations; visit 14:45/18:18
westjetvacations.com
for packages starting
at $799 per person)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Toronto - Cozumel December 10, twice Thursday, Outbound
Introductory fares 2009 weekly Sunday 10:00/13:17
starting at $179 Return
14:15/19:02
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Toronto - Freeport November 2, twice Monday, Outbound
Introductory fares 2009 weekly Friday 10:30/13:38
starting at $155 Return
14:45/17:45
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Toronto - Holguin November 2, twice Monday, Outbound
(operated by WestJet 2009 weekly Friday 11:45/15:35
on behalf of WestJet Return
Vacations; visit 16:35/20:24
westjetvacations.com
for packages starting
at $989 per person)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Toronto - Miami October 21, daily Outbound
Introductory fares 2009 11:00/14:12
starting at $149 Return
15:00/17:51
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Toronto - November 4, twice Wednesday, Outbound
Providenciales, Turks 2009 weekly Saturday 10:00/13:50
and Caicos Return
Introductory fares 14:45/18:45
starting at $179
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Toronto - St. Martin November 1, three Tuesday, Outbound
Introductory fares 2009 times Thursday, 10:15/15:45
starting at $225 weekly Sunday Return
16:35/20:45
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Toronto - Varadero November 1, three Tuesday, Outbound
(operated by WestJet 2009 times Thursday, 10:00/13:30
on behalf of WestJet weekly Sunday Return
Vacations; visit 14:30/17:54
westjetvacations.com
for packages starting
at $879 per person)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hamilton - Punta Cana November 1, once Sunday Outbound
Introductory fares 2009 weekly 08:00/13:04
starting at $189 Return
14:00/17:32
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thunder Bay - Punta November 7, once Saturday Outbound
Cana 2009 weekly 12:45/18:46
Introductory fares Return
starting at $235 19:35/00:16
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Edmonton - Yellowknife Year-round daily Outbound
Introductory fares service 10:15/12:05
starting at $99 effective Return
November 1, 13:00/14:38
2009
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Calgary - San Diego Year-round three Monday, Outbound
Introductory fares service times Wednesday, 09:40/11:54
starting at $179 effective weekly Friday Return
November 2, 12:40/17:00
2009
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Calgary - Ixtapa/ November 3, twice Tuesday, Outbound
Zihuatanejo 2009 weekly Saturday 09:00/15:15
Introductory fares Return
starting at $229 16:05/20:40
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vancouver - Los January 15, four Monday, Outbound
Angeles 2010 times Wednesday, 09:50/12:31
Introductory fares weekly Friday, Return
starting at $159 Saturday 13:15/16:06
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vancouver - Lihue/ December 16, twice Wednesday, Outbound
Kauai 2009 weekly Saturday 15:15/19:56
Introductory fares Return
starting at $349 23:00/06:47
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vancouver - Phoenix January 17, three Tuesday, Outbound
Introductory fares 2010 times Thursday, 09:50/13:49
starting at $155 weekly Sunday Return
14:35/16:52
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vancouver - Kamloops November 1, daily Outbound
Introductory fares 2009 12:30/13:19
starting at $69 Return
10:45/11:41
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Victoria - Honolulu November 7, once Saturday Outbound
Introductory fares 2009 weekly 08:00/12:20
starting at $259 Return
13:50/21:30
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note that fares quoted do not include applicable fees,
taxes and surcharges
WestJet's winter schedule also includes the following new routes announced
June 4, 2009:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Route Start Date Frequency
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Moncton - Cancun January 9, 2010 once weekly
Introductory fares
starting at $225
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Montreal - Cancun December 16, 2009 twice weekly
Introductory fares
starting at $179
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Toronto - Cancun December 7, 2009 five times weekly
Introductory fares
starting at $179
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hamilton - Cancun November 7, 2009 once weekly
Introductory fares
starting at $169
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Winnipeg - Cancun December 7, 2009 twice weekly
Introductory fares
starting at $225
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regina - Cancun December 6, 2009 once weekly
Introductory fares
starting at $249
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regina - Puerto Vallarta December 8, 2009 once weekly
Introductory fares
starting at $229
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regina - Mazatlan December 7, 2009 once weekly
Introductory fares
starting at $209
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regina - Cabo San Lucas December 9, 2009 once weekly
Introductory fares
starting at $229
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saskatoon - Cancun December 12, 2009 once weekly
Introductory fares
starting at $249
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saskatoon - Puerto December 11, 2009 once weekly
Vallarta
Introductory fares
starting at $229
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saskatoon - Mazatlan December 10, 2009 once weekly
Introductory fares
starting at $209
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kelowna - Cancun December 12, 2009 once weekly
Introductory fares
starting at $259
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kelowna - Puerto November 1, 2009 once weekly
Vallarta
Introductory fares
starting at $209
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kelowna - Cabo San Lucas November 6, 2009 once weekly
Introductory fares
starting at $229
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prince George - Puerto November 7, 2009 once weekly
Vallarta
Introductory fares
starting at $239
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Abbotsford - Puerto November 7, 2009 once weekly
Vallarta
Introductory fares
starting at $209
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vancouver - Puerto December 8, 2009 twice weekly
Vallarta
Introductory fares
starting at $209
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Victoria - Cancun December 12, 2009 once weekly
Introductory fares
starting at $269
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Victoria - Puerto November 1, 2009 once weekly
Vallarta
Introductory fares
starting at $229
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comox - Puerto November 7, 2009 once weekly
Vallarta
Introductory fares
starting at $229
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note that fares quoted do not include applicable fees,
taxes and surcharges
WestJet will also increase frequencies year-over-year on a number of
popular routes including:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Route Start Date Frequency
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Montréal - Fort November 1, 2009 increased once weekly
Lauderdale to 11 times weekly
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ottawa - Tampa November 1, 2009 increased once weekly
to three times weekly
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Toronto - Bridgetown November 2, 2009 increased once weekly
to five times weekly
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Winnipeg - Orlando November 1, 2009 increased twice weekly
to three times weekly
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Winnipeg - Phoenix November 2, 2009 increased once weekly
to four times weekly
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Edmonton - Cancun November 1, 2009 increase once weekly
to three times weekly
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Edmonton - Los Angeles November 1, 2009 increased four times
weekly to daily
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Edmonton - Palm Springs November 1, 2009 increased three times
weekly to daily
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Calgary - Cancun November 2, 2009 increased once weekly
(Nov. 2-Dec. 6 operated to three times weekly
by WestJet on behalf
of WestJet Vacations)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Calgary - Phoenix November 2, 2009 increased three times
weekly to 10 times weekly
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Calgary - Puerto November 1, 2009 increased once weekly
Vallarta to three times weekly
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vancouver - Honolulu October 8, 2009 daily service
starts Oct 8/09
11 times weekly
starts Nov 1/09
12 times weekly
starts Dec 16/09
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vancouver - Maui October 7, 2009 daily service
starts Oct 7/09
10 times weekly
starts Nov 1/09
12 times weekly
starts Dec 16/09
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
"This schedule represents significant expansion on both the transborder (U.S.) and international fronts," said Chris Avery. "Both are strategic decisions as we continue to aggressively pursue and earn profitable market share in these critical areas. WestJet is well on its way to becoming the market leader in many of the most popular sun destinations in the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean."
At this point, the 2009-2010 winter schedule sees WestJet increase its transborder and international capacity by approximately 45 per cent year over year. In line with prudent capacity management, domestic capacity will decrease by approximately five per cent for the same time period. On an overall basis, WestJet's year-over-year capacity increase for November 1, 2009, to April 30, 2010, currently sits at approximately five per cent.
WestJet Vacations offers customized vacation packages to all of WestJet's southern destinations, with prices starting as low as $83 per person per night, including air and hotel. And for a limited time only, guests who book a vacation package with WestJet Vacations before September 30, 2009, for travel between November 2, 2009, and May 15, 2010, will receive a $400 travel credit per room booked. Guests booking between October 1 and October 31, 2009, for travel during the same window, will receive a $200 travel credit per room booked. For more information, visit westjetvacations.com. Flights and vacation packages are available for sale immediately through travel agents or online at westjet.com or westjetvacations.com
"This is an excellent time to travel," said Gregg Saretsky, Vice-President, WestJet Vacations. "We are working very closely with our resort and hotel partners to bring our guests tremendous value, and there is some very competitive pricing in the market right now. On top of that, guests who book early will receive early booking bonuses, which will mean hundreds of dollars in savings on their next WestJet flight."
About WestJet
WestJet is Canada's preferred airline, offering scheduled service throughout its 66-city North American and Caribbean network. Named one of Canada's most admired corporate cultures in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, WestJet pioneered low-cost flying in Canada. WestJet offers increased legroom, leather seats and live seatback television provided by Bell TV on its modern fleet of 79 Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft. With future confirmed deliveries for an additional 42 aircraft, bringing its fleet to 121 by 2013, WestJet strives to be the number one choice for travellers.
About WestJet Vacations
WestJet Vacations provides guests with affordable, reliable and easy to book travel experiences to 59 destinations in 11 countries, including the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. Leveraging WestJet's fun and friendly image, extensive network and world-class guest experience, WestJet Vacations offers guests a personalized, once-in-a-lifetime vacation experience. For more information, visit westjetvacations.com