WestJet spreads wings across Canada and beyond

Canada's preferred airline expands network, flight schedule

CALGARY, Jan. 20, 2014 /CNW/ - WestJet today announced its most comprehensive schedule release since the airline took to the skies in 1996. As part of the 2014 summer schedule, the airline is adding five new routes, increasing frequency on 20 existing routes across the network, while five seasonal routes move to year-round service.

Following its successful launch in Western Canada, WestJet Encore moves east to start service in Toronto with flights between Toronto and Thunder Bay. WestJet Encore will also offer service between Thunder Bay and Winnipeg. 

"The latest schedule reflects the varied needs of the many guests who choose WestJet," said John Weatherill, WestJet's Director, Network and Schedule Planning.  "We have added inflight service and amenities for those guests travelling for business and additional flight frequency and convenient, non-stop service across all points of the network. Our goal is to make it even easier to do business affordably and efficiently with our airline. Leisure travellers asking for more frequency to WestJet's southern destinations will also see their options increase with today's announcement."

WestJet Encore will also launch new routes between Fort McMurray and Kelowna, B.C. and Fort McMurray and Vancouver as part of the largest single increase of flights to Fort McMurray since WestJet first began service to the area. The Fort McMurray expansion also includes new WestJet non-stop flights to Las Vegas, conversion of daily Toronto non-stop flights to year-round service, and frequency increases to both Calgary and Edmonton.

The summer of 2014 will see WestJet's first foray into the European, trans-Atlantic market with direct flights between Toronto and Dublin beginning June 15, 2014.  Other summer highlights include new daily non-stop flights between Calgary and Prince George, B.C. and from Calgary to New York's JFK International Airport, as well as service increases to 15 popular southern destinations including Palm Springs, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Fort Lauderdale and Phoenix in addition to well-travelled Caribbean and Mexican spots.

Details of WestJet and WestJet Encore's new routes for the summer 2014 schedule:

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