News Releases
CALGARY, Oct. 29, 2016 /CNW/ - Today, with the departure of flight 2604 from Toronto Pearson International Airport, WestJet officially becomes the only Canadian carrier directly connecting Canadians to the beautiful country of Belize.
"Leaving Canada and hitting the beaches in Belize by mid-day is something that Canadian travellers are not used to and we have absolutely changed the game with our twice-weekly service from Toronto," said Bob Cummings, WestJet Executive Vice-President, Commercial. "I extend a big thanks to our WestJet team, the Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation as well as the Belize Tourism Board for their support in the creation of this significant route. To our guests this morning, we say, "Gud maanin," and welcome aboard. We look forward to offering both Canadians and Belizeans the chance to experience WestJet's low fare, high care service over the winter months."
"This is a very exciting moment for the tourism stakeholders in Belize. After a long planning period with WestJet, we are thrilled that the route has become a reality," said Karen Bevans, Director of Tourism for the Belize Tourism Board. "This flight comes at the perfect time, as we are approaching the start of our upcoming high season, making travelling to Belize so much easier and more convenient for Canadians. We expect that with such ease in accessibility, tourism arrivals from Canada will increase, thereby contributing positively to the growth in the overnight tourism sector in Belize."
"This is truly a historic milestone for our nation," said Honourable Manuel Heredia Jr., Belize's Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation. "Today's inaugural flight holds a very significant and unparalleled opportunity for Belize, as it is the first to directly connect Canada and Belize. We certainly foresee an increase in travel to Belize from thousands of Canadians who have been deterred in the past due to inconvenient layovers and connections in the United States. After today, this is no longer the case. Our sincerest gratitude goes out to WestJet for their partnership and belief in a future with Belize."
Belize is WestJet's 21st destination in the Caribbean and third destination in Central America. During peak winter months the airline has a total of more than 90 flights per week from Toronto to the Caribbean and Central America.
Flights will be operated on WestJet's Boeing 737 aircraft featuring the enhanced Plus product and WestJet Connect, WestJet's inflight entertainment system connected directly to smartphone, tablet or computer. Almost 70 per cent of WestJet's Boeing fleet is now equipped with WestJet Connect.
All flights allow WestJet Rewards members the opportunity to earn WestJet dollars to be used towards the payment of a WestJet-marketed flight or a WestJet Vacations package (excluding taxes, fees and charges).
Details of WestJet's new non-stop service to Belize City:
|
Route |
Frequency |
Departing |
Arriving |
Effective |
|
Toronto-Belize City |
Twice weekly |
9:15 a.m. |
11:59 a.m. |
October 29, 2016 |
|
Belize City-Toronto |
Twice weekly |
12:50 p.m. |
7:00 p.m. |
October 29, 2016 |
About WestJet
We are proud to be Canada's most trusted airline, powered by an award-winning culture of care and recognized as one of the country's top employers. We offer scheduled service to more than 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:
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)
2015/2011/2010/2008/2007/2006/2005 Canada's Most Admired Corporate Culture (Waterstone Human Capital)
2015 Best Employers in Canada (Aon Hewitt)
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SOURCE WestJet
Image with caption: "Belize welcomes WestJet as its first non-stop flight from Canada (CNW Group/WestJet)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20161029_C5824_PHOTO_EN_807018.jpg
