News Releases

WestJet to restore regional routes suspended due to COVID-19

Flights set to resume to airports across Atlantic Canada and Quebec City as part of the airline's commitment to a safe restart  

CALGARY, AB, March 24, 2021 /CNW/ - WestJet today announced it will restore flights to the communities of Charlottetown, Fredericton, Moncton, Sydney and Quebec City after service was suspended as a result of COVID-19. The reinstatement of service will restore WestJet's complete network of pre-COVID-19 domestic airports.

"We committed to return to the communities we left, as a result of the pandemic, and we will be restoring flights to these regions in the coming months, of our own volition," said Ed Sims, WestJet, President and CEO. "These communities have been a crucial factor in our success over our 25 years and it is critical for us to ensure they have access to affordable air service and domestic connectivity to drive their economic recovery." 

Service is set to resume to the five airports WestJet suspended service from in November, beginning June 24, 2021 through to June 30, 2021. In addition, service between St. John's and Toronto, which was indefinitely suspended in October, will resume effective June 24, 2021. Following a temporary suspension, the restart of service between St. John's and Halifax will be advanced from June 24, 2021 to May 6, 2021. Full schedule details and restart dates are outlined below. 

"Our focus remains on the safe restart of air travel. We ask that federal and provincial governments work with us to provide clarity and certainty to Canadians, including travel policies that support economic recovery and restore jobs," continued Sims.  

Recognizing the investments that WestJet's travel and tourism partners in the regions need to make to begin to recover from the pandemic, the airline will continue to encourage the Atlantic premiers to advance their efforts to ensure the region is open to Canadians this summer. 

"Alongside an accelerated and successful vaccine rollout, we are hopeful that there will be an easing of onerous travel restrictions currently in place," said Sims. "We look forward to working together to safely reconnect Canadians to the region in the coming months."  

Planned Network Service Resumptions: 

Route 

Frequency 

Planned restart date 

St. John's-Halifax 

6x weekly 

May 6, 2021 

Charlottetown-Toronto 

11x weekly 

June 24, 2021 

St. John's-Toronto 

1x daily 

June 24, 2021 

Fredericton-Toronto 

1x daily 

June 26, 2021 

Quebec City-Toronto 

1x daily

June 28, 2021 

Sydney-Halifax 

1x daily 

June 28, 2021 

Moncton-Toronto 

1x daily 

June 30, 2021 

About WestJet  
In 25 years of serving Canadians, WestJet has cut airfares in half and increased the flying population in Canada to more than 50 per cent. WestJet launched in 1996 with three aircraft, 250 employees and five destinations, growing over the years to more than 180 aircraft, 14,000 employees and more than 100 destinations in 23 countries, pre-pandemic. 

Since the start of the pandemic the WestJet Group of Companies has built a layered framework of safety measures to ensure Canadians can continue to travel safely and responsibly through the airline's Safety Above All hygiene program. During this time, WestJet has maintained its status as one of the top-10 on-time airlines in North America as named by Cirium. 

For more information about everything WestJet, please visit westjet.com.  

Connect with WestJet on Facebook at facebook.com/westjet  
Follow WestJet on Twitter at twitter.com/westjet  
Follow WestJet on Instagram instagram.com/westjet/  
Subscribe to WestJet on YouTube at youtube.com/westjet  
Read the WestJet blog at blog.westjet.com  

Recent recognition includes:
2021 Five Star Major Airline (APEX)
2020/2019 Number-One Ranked Canadian Airline Loyalty Program in Member Engagement (Bond Brand Loyalty)  
2019/2018/2017 Best Airline in Canada (TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines)  
2019 Winner Among Mid-Sized Airlines in North America (TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines)  
2019/2018 Number-One-Ranked Airline Credit Card in Canada (Rewards Canada)  

SOURCE WESTJET, an Alberta Partnership

For further information: Media contacts: To contact WestJet media relations, please email media@westjet.com.