Tag Archives: Calgary

WestJet today launches Toronto-Phoenix flights

WestJet (Calgary) today (October 26) will launch new daily nonstop services between Toronto (Toronto) and Phoenix, Arizona

Details of WestJet’s new daily Phoenix service are as follows:

Flight WS 1198 will depart Toronto at 10 a.m. (1000) and arrive in Phoenix at 11:51 a.m. (1151).
Flight WS 1199 will depart Phoenix at 12:40 p.m. (1240) and arrive in Toronto at 7:41 p.m. (1941).

In other news, WestJet Encore will launch new daily nonstop service between Calgary and Penticton, British Columbia, today, October 26, 2014.

Details of WestJet’s new daily Penticton service are as follows:

Flight WS 3281 departs Calgary at 2:10 p.m. (1410) and arrives in Penticton at 2:26 p.m. (1426).
Flight WS 3280 departs Penticton at 3 p.m. (1500) and arrives in Calgary at 5:05 p.m. (1705).

Penticton is WestJet’s 41st nonstop destination from Calgary International Airport. The airline’s average of 97 daily departures makes YYC its busiest Canadian airport.

Launched in June 2013, WestJet Encore now services 24 cities in seven provinces with 114 daily departures. In 2015, the regional airline will launch service to Quebec City, Quebec, and Fredericton, New Brunswick.

Copyright Photo: Ken Petersen/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-8CT C-GAWS (msn 38880) arrives in Las Vegas with new Aviation Partners Boeing Split Scimitar Winglets.

WestJet:

WestJet reports a record 2Q net profit of $51.8 million, will operate Boeing 767-300 ERs, Encore orders 5 more Q400s

WestJet (Calgary) today announced its second quarter results for 2014, with net earnings of $51.8 million (all amounts in Canadian dollars), or $0.40 per fully diluted share, as compared with the net earnings of $44.7 million, or $0.34 per fully diluted share reported in the second quarter of 2013. Based on the trailing twelve months, the airline achieved a return on invested capital of 13.7 per cent, consistent with the 13.7 per cent reported in the previous quarter.

“We had a great second quarter, reporting record earnings, exceeding our ROIC target for the eighth consecutive quarter, and achieving an on-time performance rate of 84.5 per cent, a year over year improvement of 3.5 percentage points,” said WestJet President and CEO Gregg Saretsky. “We continue to execute on our growth plans, including new service to Dublin, Ireland, success with our fare bundles initiative, and the expansion of WestJet Encore. Encore celebrated its first birthday in June, recently welcomed its one-millionth guest, and exercised five additional purchase options for Q400 aircraft. I want to thank all of our 10,000 WestJetters for their commitment to providing our award winning brand of friendly caring service, which is the foundation of our success.”

On July 7, WestJet announced that it was in the advanced stages of sourcing aircraft for its entry into wide-body service. A natural, next-step evolution for the airline, WestJet has recently selected four Boeing 767-300 ER aircraft (below) which will initially operate on routes between Alberta and Hawaii during the winter season beginning in late 2015. The airline’s current winter service between Alberta and Hawaii, via two Boeing 757-200s operated by Thomas Cook, is ending in the spring of 2015. WestJet expects to expand its operation into overseas markets starting in the summer of 2016. Further announcements regarding WestJet’s wide-body schedule will be released at a later date.

Image: WestJet.

On July 28, 2014, WestJet’s Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.12 per common voting share and variable voting share for the third quarter of 2014, to be paid on September 30, 2014, to shareholders of record on September 17, 2014. All dividends paid by WestJet are, pursuant to subsection 89(14) of the Income Tax Act, designated as eligible dividends, unless indicated otherwise. An eligible dividend paid to a Canadian resident is entitled to the enhanced dividend tax credit.

In other news, WestJet Encore Ltd. has signed a firm purchase agreement for five Bombardier Q400 NextGen airliners. This transaction is a conversion of a batch of five options booked by the carrier’s parent company WestJet and follows the first conversion of five option aircraft announced on March 27, 2014, bringing the number of option aircraft exercised to 10. The initial total of 25 option aircraft was part of the original contract announced on August 1, 2012 that included WestJet’s firm order for 20 Q400 NextGen airliners.

WestJet Encore launched in June 2013 operating 10 departures daily to two destinations with two Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft and 131 employees. Today, it operates 90 departures daily from hubs in Calgary, Alberta and Toronto, Ontario to 19 destinations with 13 Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft and approximately 500 employees. The airline has announced plans to introduce service to Québec City, Québec; Fredericton, New Brunswick and Penticton, British Columbia in 2015.

Copyright Photo: Matt Dueck/AirlinersGallery.com. WestJet will become a new Boeing 767-300 operator. The airline will trade in its wet leased Boeing 757-200s (currently operated by Thomas Cook Airlines) for larger wide-body Boeing 767-300 ERs in 2015. The pictured Boeing 757-28A N750NA (msn 26277) was previously operated by North American Airlines in the WestJet brand.

WestJet:

WestJet to add Loreto, Mexico and Fredericton

WestJet (Calgary) has announced the 2014-2015 winter schedule featuring two new destinations, one new route and increased frequency on 19 additional routes. Twice-daily nonstop service between Toronto (Pearson) and Fredericton, New Brunswick begins on April 15, 2015, and weekly nonstop service between Calgary and Loreto, Mexico, launches on February 14, 2015. Weekly flights between Winnipeg and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood operate Saturdays starting on November 1, 2014.

Flights to Fredericton will be operated by WestJet Encore (Calgary) using its fleet of 78-seat, Canadian-made Bombardier DHC-8-402 (marketed as the Q400) NextGen aircraft.

Earlier this year, WestJet unveiled four additional new routes as part the 2014-2015 winter schedule.

WestJet Encore service between Calgary and Penticton begins October 26, 2014, Edmonton to Kamloops service starts February 15, 2015, and Quebec City welcomes twice-daily flights beginning March 15, 2015. Daily WestJet service between Toronto and Phoenix launches October 26, 2014.

WestJet Encore was launched in June 2013 operating 10 departures daily to two destinations with two aircraft and 131 employees. Today, it operates 90 departures daily to 19 destinations with 12 aircraft and approximately 500 employees.

Copyright Photo: Wingnut/AirlinersGallery.com. Captured at an unusual angle, Boeing 737-8CT C-GAWS (msn 38880) with the special #100 Boeing 737 NG markings taxies at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

WestJet:

WestJet Encore carries its one-millionth passenger

WestJet Encore (Calgary) has announced it welcomed its one-millionth guest on board on July 10. The one-millionth guest was on WestJet Encore flight 3101 from Calgary to Fort St. John, which departed Calgary at 5:45 p.m. MDT. WestJet Encore President Ferio Pugliese was on hand to present the lucky guest on board the flight with round trip airfare for two anywhere in WestJet’s world.

WestJet Encore began service on June 24, 2013, with three aircraft serving four destinations. Today, WestJet Encore operates 13 aircraft to 18 destinations with more than 100 departures daily. WestJet Encore has orders for 12 more Bombardier Q400 Next Gen aircraft.

On June 26, 2014, WestJet Encore introduced four-times-daily service from Thunder Bay to Toronto, marking the airline’s first flight into Toronto Pearson International Airport.

United expands Embraer 175 operations

United Airlines (Chicago) will add additional Embraer 175 flights from the San Francisco hub in the fall. In addition to the previously-reported routes, United will add United Express service from SFO with the new E175 flights to Boise (starting on September 30), Calgary (September 21), Dallas/Fort Worth (October 26), Kansas City (October 26), St. Louis (September 20) and Salt Lake City (October 26) per Airline Route.

The SFO flights are expected to be operated by SkyWest Airlines.

SkyWest Airlines operated its E175 inaugural flight, operating as United Express, from Chicago O’Hare to Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, May 17. According to SkyWest, “the milestone represented a tremendous amount of preparation and hard work by many SkyWest employees during the last 15 months.”

Within the next two years, SkyWest will take delivery of 40 new E175s that will operate under an agreement with United Airlines.

According to the airline, “the E175 is the fifth aircraft type in SkyWest’s current fleet, and from full-sized cargo-bins to larger aisles and seats, it’s filled with enhanced features that will help ensure every passenger enjoys a comfortable, convenient flight.”

From Houston, E175 service on flights between the hub at George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Atlanta and New Orleans begins on June 15, and between Houston and Austin starting on June 16. United also launched E175 service between Chicago O’Hare and Minneapolis/St. Paul on June 5; between Chicago O’Hare and Atlanta beginning on June 15; and between Chicago O’Hare and New York LaGuardia beginning on June 23.

United Express carrier Mesa Airlines will operate the flights between Houston and Atlanta, Austin and New Orleans. United Express carrier SkyWest Airlines will operate the flights between Chicago and Atlanta, New York LaGuardia and Minneapolis/St. Paul.

Delta continues to add Seattle/Tacoma routes, this time to Calgary and Spokane

Delta Air Lines (Seattle/Tacoma) is adding more feeder routes to its growing Seattle/Tacoma mini international (and now domestic) hub in direct competition to its “partner” Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma). The carrier will add daily Delta Connection service from SEA to both Calgary and Spokane starting on November 3 with Bombardier CRJ700s.

Update: On May 27 Delta issued this statement:

Delta Air Lines this fall will add new service from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to popular ski and beach destinations, including Spokane, Washington; Maui, Hawaii; Bozeman, Montana; Calgary, Alberta; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. This will give Seattle-area travelers more choice as the airline continues growing its domestic and international network in the Emerald City. All new international destinations are pending foreign government approval, and Puerto Vallarta service is awaiting U.S. government approval and is not yet available for sale.

Delta’s new Seattle/Tacoma service beginning November 3, 2014, includes:

Four daily flights to Spokane International Airport using two-class, 65-seat CRJ700 aircraft
Two daily flights to Calgary International Airport using two-class, 76-seat Embraer ERJ 175 aircraft

New Seattle service beginning December 20, 2014, includes:

One daily flight to Maui’s Kahului Airport using a Boeing 757-200 aircraft

One daily seasonal flight to Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport through Jan. 4, 2015, then

Saturday service from Jan. 10 through March 28, 2015, using two-class, 76-seat Embraer E-175 aircraft

Four weekly flights to Los Cabos International Airport through Jan. 10, 2015, then Saturday service beginning Jan. 17, 2015, using an Airbus A319 aircraft

Four weekly flights to Puerto Vallarta’s Licenciado Gustavo Diaz Ordaz International Airport through Jan. 10, 2015, then Saturday service beginning Jan. 17, 2015, using an Airbus A319 aircraft

Delta began nonstop international service in March to London-Heathrow and will begin nonstop service to Seoul and Hong Kong on June 2 and 16, respectively.

The airline is in the process of beginning significant new Seattle/Tacoma growth to markets including San Francisco; Fairbanks, Alaska; Juneau, Alaska; San Jose, Calif.; San Diego; Vancouver, British Columbia; Portland, Ore.; Phoenix; Palm Springs, Calif.; Tucson, Ariz.; and Jackson Hole, Wyo.; as well as expanded service to Anchorage; Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

In addition to London-Heathrow, Delta currently operates nonstop flights from Seattle/Tacoma to Amsterdam, Beijing, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Shanghai-Pudong, Tokyo-Haneda and Tokyo-Narita. By this summer, Delta will offer more international service from Seattle/Tacoma than all other carriers combined with 10 daily destinations and more than 2,500 daily international seats as part of the market’s 86 peak-day departures to 26 destinations.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. In the Seattle/Tacoma area Delta bills itself as “Seattle’s Global Airline”, even on baggage carts at SeaTac.

Delta Air Lines (current):

WestJet to again lease two Boeing 757-200s from Thomas Cook Airlines

WestJet (Calgary) has announced it has once again leased two Boeing 757-200 aircraft from Thomas Cook Airlines (UK) (Manchester) to deliver nonstop, daytime service between Calgary and Honolulu , Calgary and Maui, and between Edmonton and Maui.

Pending regulatory approval*, flights are scheduled to begin December 13, 2013 , and continue through April 26, 2014 . Details of WestJet’s seasonal non-stop service include:

Route	Weekly frequency
Between Calgary and Honolulu	Twice weekly
Between Calgary and Maui	Four times weekly
Between Edmonton and Maui	Three times weekly

*Flights to be operated by Thomas Cook Airlines’ 757s, subject to Canadian Transportation Agency concurrence.

WestJet flight attendants on board the Boeing 757-200s will ensure the same great WestJet guest experience while Thomas Cook Airlines will provide the aircraft and pilots. The increase in capacity will ensure more Albertans can enjoy non-stop WestJet service to the Hawaiian Islands. WestJet is the only airline providing capacity for Thomas Cook’s tour operator arm in the Canadian market as part of a successful, Canada-wide partnership for the third year in a row.

Copyright Photo: Matt Dueck. North American Airlines (New York-JFK) started operating for WestJet Airlines (Calgary) on February 12, 2011 with its Boeing 757-28A N750NA (msn 26277). The larger aircraft operated with WestJet titles from Calgary and Edmonton to Hawaii. The lease was only for two months. This airframe was converted to a freighter as N971FD with FedEx Express. Since then Thomas Cook has operated their 757s for WestJet but still in the Thomas Cook livery.

WestJet:

Thomas Cook Airlines (UK):

WestJet launches WestJet Encore

WestJet (Calgary) yesterday (June 24) launched WestJet Encore, Canada’s newest regional airline, with service to Fort St. John, Nanaimo, Vancouver, and Victoria, British Columbia and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. WestJet Encore features a new fleet of two Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) NextGen aircraft.

Calgary will also be the home of its WestJet Encore operations.

FLIGHT SCHEDULE:

Flight	Departing	Arriving	Effective
3109	Calgary at 11 a.m.	Nanaimo at 11:45 a.m.	June 24, 2013
3108	Nanaimo at 12:30 p.m.	Calgary at 2:56 p.m.	June 24, 2013
3101	Calgary at 3:50 p.m.	Fort St. John at 4:35 p.m.	June 24, 2013
3103	Fort St. John at 5:05 p.m.	Vancouver at 6:48 p.m.	June 24, 2013
3103	Vancouver at 7:20 p.m.	Victoria at 7:50 p.m.	June 24, 2013
3246	Calgary at 4:50 p.m.	Saskatoon at 6:09 p.m.	June 24, 2013
3247	Saskatoon at 6:35 p.m.	Calgary at 7:59 p.m.	June 24, 2013
3102	Victoria at 7:15 a.m.	Vancouver at 7:44 a.m.	June 25, 2013
3102	Vancouver at 8:15 a.m.	Fort St. John at 10:01 a.m.	June 25, 2013
3100	Fort St. John at 10:30 a.m.	Calgary at 1 p.m.	June 25, 2013

Copyright Photo: WestJet. Employees wave goodbye to the first WestJet Encore flight as it departs Calgary bound for Nanaimo with Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) C-FHEN (msn 4441).

WestJet:

Video: WestJet Never Sleeps:

Video: A previous April’s Fools “Kargo Kids”:

WestJet to lease two Boeing 757-200s from Thomas Cook Airlines

WestJet Airlines (Calgary) announced today it will lease two Boeing 757-200 aircraft from Thomas Cook Airlines (Manchester) to deliver more nonstop, daytime service between Calgary and Honolulu and Maui, and between Edmonton and Maui.

Pending regulatory approval, flights are scheduled to begin on December 13, 2012, and continue through April 21, 2013. Details of WestJet’s seasonal nonstop service include:

Route	Weekly frequency
Between Calgary and Honolulu	Twice weekly
Between Calgary and Maui	Four times weekly
Between Edmonton and Maui	Three times weekly

Just as in the previous year, WestJet flight attendants will be on board the Boeing 757-200s. Thomas Cook Airlines will provide the aircraft and pilots. The agreement complements the announcement in April that WestJet’s Boeing 737 aircraft will provide more seat capacity for Thomas Cook in the 2012-2013 winter season. As an expansion to its successful, two-year, Canada-wide, partnership, WestJet is the only airline providing capacity for Thomas Cook’s tour operator arm in the Canadian market.

Copyright Photo: Matt Dueck. In the past, North American Airlines operated its pictured Boeing 757-28A N750NA for WestJet. N750NA climbs away from Calgary.

WestJet:

TMK Air Commuter to add its first Bombardier DHC-8-100

TMK Air Commuter DHC8 CFOVR, originally uploaded by $and$man.

TMK Air Commuter (Goma) is getting ready to take delivery of its first Bombardier DHC-8-100.

Copyright Photo: Chris Sands. Waiting for its delivery flight at Calgary, ex Regional 1 DHC-8-102 C-FOVR (msn 105) is now fully painted in the colors of TMK Air Commuter.