Brandon Sun - PRINT EDITION
Brandon has been mentioned as a possible destination in a WestJet expansion and city officials are thrilled.
The airline announced yesterday it is considering the launch of a new short-haul regional airline as early as 2013.
"I think the Brandon/Westman market is a great business opportunity for WestJet," Mayor Shari Decter Hirst said.
"They were last here about a decade ago. Since then, the community has gotten a lot larger, a stronger economy and the addition of the oil patch travel requirements."
The airline is considering using a fleet of approximately 40 smaller turboprop aircraft. It would allow WestJet to introduce its service to many smaller communities and create new connections between existing markets.
Decter Hirst said recent upgrades to the Brandon airport have made it more than capable of handling anything the airline might require.
"We’ve got a runway that can handle 747s, so the turboprops are no problem at all," she said.
WestJet ran two trial periods in Brandon in 1999 and 2001.
"During both of those times, we were able to maintain the high load factors on the large aircraft, so when you look at smaller aircraft then obviously that is even that much more favourable, " said Sandy Trudel, Brandon’s economic development officer.
Trudel said air service in Brandon would benefit the city in a number of ways.
"It makes connectivity for our local businesses, both for inbound clients or going out to meet with clients, all that much more streamlined," Trudel said.
Trudel said it would also be great from an event-recruitment standpoint.
"When we’re able to say on our checklist that Brandon has regularly scheduled air service, many events that are currently a struggle for us then become much more of an opportunity because we’ve removed that barrier of air service," Trudel said.
One sector that would benefit from regular air service to Brandon are those working on the oil patch.
Dave Jordan, operations manager at Tundra Oil and Gas in Virden, said it would make life a lot easier.
"Right now for people coming out of Calgary, they have to fly either to Regina or Winnipeg and then a two- or three-hour drive to here," Jordan said.
"It involves quite a bit of logistics to be able to go up for a simple meeting, it sometimes takes a day, day and half out of your time."
Brandon Chamber of Commerce president Cam Clark said his organization is optimistic.
"This would be a good thing for our community," he said. "Anything that would help to enhance business is always welcome."
Clark said there are still a lot of questions, such as where WestJet would fly to from Brandon and what other upgrades need to be made. But at first glance, it seems like a step in the right direction.
"It would be a natural for us to have it, as we’re certainly on the route ... part of that east and west corridor," Clark said.
WestJet media relations adviser Jennifer Sanford said the next step is to meet with employees across the country to present the proposal.
"Given our strong corporate culture and excellent relationship with WestJetters, we believe this is an important part of the process," Sanford wrote in an email to the Sun. "It is important to note that we have not made a decision and will not until we have had the opportunity to meet with our employees and hear their feedback."
It has been reported that Brandon and Thompson may benefit from the expansion, as well as Cranbrook, Prince Rupert, Fort St. John and Dawson Creek in British Columbia; Lethbridge, Alta.; Saguenay, Que.; and Sudbury, Sarnia and Timmins in Ontario.
WestJet currently offers scheduled service to 71 cities in North America and the Caribbean.
» jaustin@brandonsun.com
Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition January 17, 2012
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Brandon has been mentioned as a possible destination in a WestJet expansion and city officials are thrilled.
The airline announced yesterday it is considering the launch of a new short-haul regional airline as early as 2013.
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Brandon has been mentioned as a possible destination in a WestJet expansion and city officials are thrilled.
The airline announced yesterday it is considering the launch of a new short-haul regional airline as early as 2013.
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