From WestJet
WESTJET’S SUMMER SEASONAL BASE OPERATIONS IMPACTED BY COVID-19
As the demand for travel remains significantly impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, WestJet has made the difficult decision to suspend service to three seasonal bases. The summer season usually runs from late April through October, however, the start of seasonal service had been pushed back to July 3, 2020 due to COVID-19.
“Our investments in developing seasonal destinations has been a central component of domestic tourism in these markets,” said Arved von zur Muehlen, WestJet Chief Commercial Officer. “In these unprecedented times of low demand and with the ask from governments to restrict unnecessary travel, we have made the difficult decision to suspend service at select bases for the 2020 summer season.”
While record-low demand continues to affect the airline, WestJet remains committed to keeping critical lifelines open for essential travel and goods to its 38 year-round domestic airports.
“We thank all of our guests, WestJetters and airport partners in these destinations for their support and look forward to the time when we will be bringing leisure and business travellers back into these communities again.”
Service to all three seasonal destinations is planned to return in 2021. Guests affected by these seasonal suspensions, will be proactively notified of their options.
The following summer seasonal bases and routes have been suspended:
| Route | Planned Frequency | Status |
| Calgary-Whitehorse | 4x weekly | Suspended |
| Calgary-Windsor | 7x weekly | Suspended |
| Halifax-Gander | 7x weekly | Suspended |
HONOURABLE JASON KENNEY, PREMIER OF ALBERTA AND MINISTER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TRADE AND TOURISM, TANYA FIR ADDRESS WESTJETTERS
On Friday afternoon, WestJet welcomed the Honourable Jason Kenney, Premier of Alberta and Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism, Tanya Fir to WestJet’s Alberta headquarters. We were pleased the Premier and Minister were able to virtually meet with WestJetters to provide an overview of Alberta’s current situation, actions taken by the government to manage COVID-19, what the path forward looks like and the role WestJet will play in leading Alberta’s economic recovery.
For highlights from the visit please see the following video available for download here. We ask that media please reach out to Government of Alberta with any further questions on the special visit.
BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE
Guests can continue to book new flights with confidence as we’ve extended our flexible change/cancel policies for new bookings until June 30, 2020. More on our current policies available here.
REPATRIATION FLIGHT SCHEDULE
This week WestJet, in collaboration with Government of Canada, will operate its 23rd repatriation flight for Canadians from El Salvador to Toronto.
- Wednesday, May 27 – San Salvador, El Salvador to Toronto