WestJet’s First Direct Flight From Calgary Arrives Tonight
YXS lassoes WestJet direct flights to Cowtown photo courtesy Lindsay Cotter
Prince George, BC – WestJet's first non-stop flight from Calgary to Prince George touches down at 10:27pm this evening…
"Prince George is one of WestJet's early destinations and we are very grateful for the strong support of northern British Columbians over the past 15 years, says the airline's Director of Network and Schedule Planning, John Weatherill. "Residents have asked for additional service and starting today, our guests will have the opportunity to take an early morning, 90-minute flight to Calgary and connect to 27 destinations throughout the WestJet world."
The Prince George Airport's Communications & Community Relations Manager, Lindsay Cotter, says a celebratory send-off is planned for tomorrow morning's 6am inaugural direct WestJet flight to the Stampede City.
She points out the new service to YYC will save those heading to destinations further east anywhere from two to six hours in travel time.
Also taking flight today, Westjet's new daily non-stop service to from Calgary to JFK Airport in New York.
The new Prince George-Calgary daily service is scheduled to continue until at least October 25th. According to a news release issued by the airline this morning, fares are available starting from $190.18 one-way from Prince George to Calgary, while the return, one-way flight from Calgary to PG is listed as slightly more at $200.68.
"It takes a community to support a new service," says Cotter, "Have you booked a seat yet?"
Comments
I sure wish they had a direct Edmonton to PG flight :) that would be so awesome!!!
Vegas direct? Probably too much to hope for although it would be nice even if it was once a month.
Didn’t WinAir try Vegas direct about 20 years ago? It never took off due to some shady dealings by an American carrier. Something to that affect.
Air Canada had a direct flight Prince George to Calgary a number of years ago, however they discontinued the service right around the time that the City was subsidizing the Prince George to Seattle, Horizen Air flights.
Canadian Mountain Air recently started a Terrace to Calgary flight with a stop over at Prince George. One has to wonder if this service will die off, now that West Jet has a direct flight.
What happens after October 25th.??? No flights to Calgary???
The flight is part of their summer schedule. If it does well, they’d mostly likely keep it in the winter schedule as well.
It is important we show WestJet we can support a flight east and the only way to do that is book a flight to Calgary and beyond.
Take a close look at the connections this flight makes, you will save time heading east for sure.
direct flight to cancun would be really nice
Love west jet. Scared to ride in those antiquated air canada sausage tubes.
The flight is part of their summer schedule. If it does well, they’d mostly likely keep it in the winter schedule as well.
It is important we show WestJet we can support a flight east and the only way to do that is book a flight to Calgary and beyond.
Take a close look at the connections this flight makes, you will save time heading east for sure.
WestJet had a direct flight to Calgary a few years ago but discontinued it.
Hopefully they can make it work this time around.
As for the other locations, Cancun, Edmonton, Vegas, etc., if they were viable, the airlines would be doing it. They aren’t in the business to operate at a loss.
I doubt that there is sufficient traffic to support two direct flights a day to Calgary from Prince George.
My guess is, is that Canadian Mountain Air will not be able to compete, and will offer a flight to Prince George to connect with the WestJet PG to Calgary flight.
This is about competition rather than customer satisfaction, and I suggest that if Cdn Mountain Air had not set up their Terrace/Pr George/Calgary flight, WestJet would not have provided this service.
Prior to the direct flights you would have to fly PG to Vancouver to Calgary, which was a lucrative schedule for WestJet. Once Cdn Mtn Air went to Calgary direct, then WestJet lost the Vancouver to Calgary business, and Walla they put on a Calgary direct flight.
The timing of the Westjet and Central flights service 2 different types of people so my guess is that both will be a benefit to PG and Calgary tourism and business people.
Palopu: “Prior to the direct flights you would have to fly PG to Vancouver to Calgary, which was a lucrative schedule for WestJet. Once Cdn Mtn Air went to Calgary direct, then WestJet lost the Vancouver to Calgary business, and Walla they put on a Calgary direct flight.”
You must not fly to Calgary much. As DPJ pointed out, the Central Mountain Air flight is in the afternoon, and geared more towards the Calgary traveller. The new WestJet flight is in the morning and more geared to the Prince George traveller.
Business travellers will fly whatever works best with their scheduling. Same with non-business travellers. Also, the morning WestJet flight will give the non-business crowd another connecting airport and different connections without having to overnight in Calgary.
Posted by: western2 on April 27 2014 7:05 PM
Love west jet. Scared to ride in those antiquated air canada sausage tubes.
Won’t be long before the Westjet tubes start flying out of PG as they have the same Q400’s as AC!
Any other ‘burg in this country ever create a direct flight TO P.G. for any reason? I didn’t think so. To anywhere but here.
Comments for this article are closed.