WestJet (Calgary) has  announced the launch of new, nonstop twice-daily service between Toronto (Pearson) and Quebec City, Quebec, effective on March 15, 2015. Using WestJet Encore‘s fleet of Canadian-made Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) NextGen aircraft, the new service will replace WestJet’s current daily service on board its Boeing Next-Generations 737s.

On the financial side, WestJet announced its first quarter results for 2014, with net earnings of $89.3 million (all amounts in Canadian dollars), or $0.69 per diluted share. This compares with the net earnings of $91.1 million, or $0.68 per diluted share reported in the first quarter of 2013. Based on the trailing twelve months, the airline achieved a return on invested capital of 13.7 per cent, compared with the 13.9 per cent reported in the previous quarter. These results include pre-tax recoveries of value added taxes of $17.6 million associated with fuel costs and $2.5 million associated with airport costs incurred from 2009 to 2013.

Copyright Photo: TMK Photography/AirlinersGallery.com. Newly-built Bombardier DHC-8-402 (marketed as the Q400) C-FIWE (msn 4466) of WestJet Encore sits idle on the ramp at Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) in Toronto.

WestJet: