News Releases

Regional carrier resumes non-stop service between Winnipeg and Regina

CALGARY, Jan. 15, 2014 /CNW/ - Today WestJet Encore launches daily non-stop service between Winnipeg, Manitoba and Regina, Saskatchewan. The first flight leaves Regina International Airport at 6:00 a.m. CDT and arrives at Winnipeg's James Armstrong Richardson Airport at 7:11 a.m. CDT.

Non-stop service between the two prairie cities resumes after a five-year hiatus, operated twice-daily on board WestJet Encore's new fleet of Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft. Expansion of the regional carrier's network continues to build in the New Year, with today marking the 16^th destination.  More destinations are still to come as more aircraft arrive, creating greater capacity and frequency in the network.

"Every new point-to-point connection offered by WestJet Encore has tremendous potential with regard to convenience, connectivity and capacity." said Ferio Pugliese, President, WestJet Encore and Executive Vice-President, WestJet. "For us, 2014 is about connecting more cities and strengthening our network with non-stop service and convenient, competitive schedules. These are two critical pieces missing until now in the regional airline market."

"Our mission is to provide excellent services and the launch of WestJet Encore in Winnipeg helps us do exactly that," said Barry Rempel, president & CEO of Winnipeg Airports Authority. "It's exciting when working with such responsive partners, that we are able to introduce more options to make travel to and from our community that much more convenient."

"As Regina International Airport maintains record breaking passenger numbers year-over-year, we are pleased to be able to continue to meet the needs and demands for our passengers, as demonstrated by the launch of WestJet Encore's new non-stop service to Winnipeg and the increased frequency and capacity we have received on our Calgary and Edmonton routes," said Jim Hunter, President and CEO, Regina Airport Authority.

Details of WestJet Encore's new daily, non-stop service between Winnipeg and Regina are:

Introductory one-way fares* starting from:

*Travel until April 26, 2014, sale until January 24, 2014.

About WestJet
We are proud to be Canada's most-preferred 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 85 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 120 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 www.westjet.com.

Recent recognition includes:

2014 Value Airline of the Year (Air Transport World magazine)
2013 Gold Stevie Award Best Transportation Company (American Business Awards)
2013 Chairman's Circle Award: WestJet Vacations (CPSC)
2013 Canada's Most Preferred Airline (Leger Marketing)
2013/2012 Canada's Most Attractive Employer (Randstad)
2013 WestJet RBC MasterCard ranked #1 in Canada (Money Sense magazine)

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SOURCE WestJet