WestJet restoring daily service

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This article was published 15/03/2022 (1556 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WestJet announced an expansion of its flights in Canada for the upcoming summer season earlier this week, but the effects in Brandon won’t be so dramatic.

The airline company’s chief commercial officer, John Weatherill, stated in a series of press releases issued Monday that 94 per cent of WestJet’s pre-pandemic routes are being restored, which includes daily service between Brandon and Calgary.

“We recognize the importance of our investments in Manitoba, as the province works to rebuild from the impacts of the pandemic,” Weatherill said in a release Monday.

“This summer, we know Manitobans are ready to welcome visitors and travel again themselves. Our service is critical to restoring the pipeline of western Canadians who visit Manitoba for both business or leisure, and we are committed to working together with our partners to expedite the region’s recovery.”

While the number of flights travelling through Brandon has wavered throughout the pandemic, there are currently seven flights departing the airport. However, there aren’t flights leaving the airport every day of the week.

WestJet’s summer schedule will make service in the Wheat City more consistent by offering a midday flight to Calgary every day of the week.

The airline’s website shows no departing flights from Brandon on Wednesday and Saturday this week, with an extra morning flight at 6:15 a.m. on Friday and Sunday.

Next week and the week after, there will be flights every day except Wednesday, with extra morning flights still on Friday and Sunday.

Starting the week of April 4, there will be flights every day of the week except Saturday, with those same extra morning flights on Fridays and Sundays.

Then, on the first week of May, flights will depart Brandon for Calgary seven days a week at 12:55 p.m. with no extra morning flights.

WestJet’s plans call for that schedule to last until April 23, 2023.

“We remain grateful to the community of Brandon for their continued support and look forward to re-connecting guests non-stop to our global hub in Calgary and wherever their final destinations may be,” a WestJet spokesperson wrote in an email to the Sun on Tuesday.

Though the overall number of flights isn’t increasing, Brandon Municipal Airport is looking forward to the resumption of its normal schedule.

“The Brandon Municipal Airport is excited to have WestJet Encore resuming their seven day a week schedule starting in May,” airport manager Greg Brown wrote in an email.

“This represents the WestJet Encore schedule resuming to 100 per cent pre-pandemic flight schedule for the season at the Brandon Municipal Airport. Brandon was fortunate to have not completely lost the schedule service during the pandemic and we look forward to the future of people travelling once again.”

Though Brandon Tourism wasn’t sure what the exact impacts of the change will be, the organization believes it’s a sign of hope.

“Daily air travel returning to Brandon is a positive development and should provide more economic activity and convenience for travellers accessing our city and region,” Lanny Stewart, the marketing and communication director for Brandon Tourism, said via email.

“It’s been a challenging time for all of us dealing with COVID-19, so now that there’s light at the end of the tunnel, it’s reason for optimism for sure.”

» cslark@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @ColinSlark