WestJet Launches First Direct Service from Calgary to Seattle – Calgary | The Canadian News

A new nonstop destination hit the departure board at Calgary International Airport on Thursday morning. Calgarian residents can now fly directly to Seattle with WestJet four times a week.

The Calgary-based carrier said the central Pacific Northwest was chosen due to demand from Canadian customers, but added that it expects the route to be popular with Americans coming north as well.

“This route will strengthen economic ties between the regions,” said Chris Hedlin, vice president of networking and alliances for WestJet.

“(The route) will stimulate Alberta’s visitor economy as we continue to strengthen our cross-border network from our global hub in Calgary.”

The airline will slowly increase service, increasing the frequency to six times a week on December 20 before converting it to a daily flight in March and twice a day starting in May.

Carmelle Hunka of the Calgary Airport Authority said Seattle will operate as a destination and a hub for passengers.

“Seattle is a very connected airport,” Hunka said. “(It connects to) 91 domestic routes in the United States, so it will move people from Calgary to Seattle.

The route is currently being served by a 78-seat de Havilland Dash 8-400, but WestJet said it will reassess the route based on demand to find out if it would be better served by the larger Boeing 737 or 737 MAX.

Rajbir Bhatti, professor of supply chain management at Mount Royal University, said that airlines adding more routes after such a difficult period of time is encouraging.

“This is good news,” Bhatti said. “It means that the aviation sector now looks like a 2019 business.

“The projections are looking good and we are getting back on track.”

Competitors are also expanding

WestJet wasn’t the only airline to launch new routes in late October and early November.

Edmonton-based Flair Airlines made its first US-bound routes to Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Phoenix, Hollywood-Burbank, Palm Springs, California and Las Vegas.

Bhatti said increased competition from the low-cost carrier is good news for consumers.

“I estimate, right now, with the limited information we’ve had in recent weeks, that prices will go down,” Bhatti said. “For how much? We will have to wait and watch.”

Bhatti added that the price drops will likely be limited to leisure and premium tickets and that consumers traveling in economy class should not expect to see any savings.

Air Canada has also been emboldened by the recent surge in demand.

During its third quarter update, the airline announced that it would move forward with the delivery of two Airbus A220s that were initially part of a canceled order in November 2020.

He also noted that he has reached an agreement with Boeing to accelerate the delivery of four Boeing 737 MAX aircraft that will now be delivered by the end of 2021.