WestJet Encore announces first Maritime destination

Regional airline to serve Fredericton, New Brunswick, beginning spring 2015

CALGARY, July 21, 2014 /CNW/ - WestJet announced today it will launch twice-daily, non-stop service between Toronto and Fredericton, New Brunswick, effective April 15, 2015. Flights will be operated by WestJet Encore using its fleet of 78-seat, Canadian-made Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft.

"The launch of service to Fredericton marks WestJet Encore's eastern-most destination to date," said Ferio Pugliese, WestJet Executive Vice-President and President, WestJet Encore. "We are very pleased to bring our low fares, high value and remarkable WestJet guest experience to the capital of New Brunswick for the first time, and we look forward to offering residents of Fredericton and the surrounding area the opportunity to take advantage of WestJet's growing domestic, transborder and international network. WestJet Encore's move eastward is part of a strategic plan to continue to liberate Canadians in smaller communities from the high cost of air travel, as WestJet has done throughout its 18-year history."

"We are delighted Fredericton has been chosen as the first destination to receive WestJet Encore in the Maritime Provinces," says David Innes, President and CEO, Fredericton International Airport.  "Our region has tremendous vitality and access to WestJet service was identified by our passengers as a high priority during our Community Air Access Strategy discussions in 2013."

Details of WestJet's new twice-daily service between Toronto and Fredericton:

Introductory one-way fares starting from:

*Some restrictions apply. Bookings must be completed by 11:59pm MST July 23, 2014. Please see westjet.com for details.

Convenient, same-day connections are available via Toronto Pearson to a variety of WestJet's domestic and international destinations including Montreal, Ottawa, Thunder Bay, Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Vancouver, New York (LaGuardia), Las Vegas, Orlando and Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

WestJet Encore launched in June 2013 operating 10 departures daily to two destinations with two aircraft and 131 employees. Today, it operates 90 departures daily to 19 destinations with 12 aircraft and approximately 500 employees.

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 90 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 westjet.com.

Recent recognition includes:
2014 Interbrand Canada's Best Canadian Brands (Rank #20)
2014 Canada's Most Preferred Airline (Ipsos)
2014 Value Airline of the Year (Air Transport World magazine)
2014/2013/2012 Canada's Most Attractive Employer (Randstad)
2013 Highest equity score: airline, vacation package supplier brands (Harris/Decima EquiTrend Study)
2013 Gold Stevie Award Best Transportation Company (American Business Awards)
2013 Chairman's Circle Award: WestJet Vacations (CPSC)
2013 WestJet RBC MasterCard ranked #1 in Canada (Money Sense magazine)

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SOURCE: WestJet