WestJet Encore celebrates first anniversary

Airline grows to 18 destinations and 13 aircraft in inaugural year

CALGARY, June 24, 2014 /CNW/ - WestJet Encore celebrates its first birthday today, just days before eastern operations launch with flights between Thunder Bay, Ontario, and Toronto.

The regional airline, which took to the skies June 24, 2013, has enjoyed tremendous support from the many communities that now have regular air service, and the many more that now boast better schedules, more frequency, and more options with respect to carriers and destinations.

The successful inaugural year of WestJet Encore can be directly attributed to the hard work of the many WestJetters and the thousands of guests that made us their choice for air travel," said Ferio Pugliese, President, WestJet Encore. "Communities across Canada have welcomed us with open arms, and we have tried to repay their loyalty with a remarkable guest experience, low fares, greater access and more choices within the wider WestJet network and, in the months to come, connectivity from Vancouver Island all the way to Toronto and Quebec City."

In the twelve months since WestJet Encore took to the skies, it has added 12 destinations to the original six, which included Calgary, Alberta, Fort St. John, Nanaimo, Vancouver, and Victoria, British Columbia and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The fleet of Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft will have grown from two to 13 by the end of June.

On Friday, June 27, WestJet Encore will officially launch east-bound service with four daily, non-stop flights between Thunder Bay and Toronto.

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 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