Tag Archives: SAAB 340A

WestJet flights between Dawson Creek and Calgary take off

WestJet on September 8 launched its newest route with the departure of WestJet Link flight 3027 connecting Calgary and Dawson Creek, B.C.

The inaugural marks a new link for the regions’ business, travel and tourism markets as WestJet becomes the only carrier to provide nonstop service between the Peace River Region and its largest hub in Calgary, where the airline is the largest carrier, offering the most seats and flights.

Upon flight 3027’s arrival in Dawson Creek, the inaugural service was celebrated by Dawson Creek Mayor Dale Bumstead alongside Chris Hedlin, WestJet’s Vice-President of Network Planning and key regional business leaders.

The new service and new route for WestJet operates four times weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. WestJet Link flights are operated through a capacity purchase agreement with Pacific Coastal Airlines using its fleet of WestJet-branded 34-seat SAAB 340 aircraft.

With the addition of Calgary–Dawson Creek service, WestJet Link now operates five routes between Calgary and Cranbrook, Lethbridge, Lloydminster and Medicine Hat and three between Vancouver and Cranbrook, Nanaimo and Comox.

Details of WestJet’s service between Calgary and Dawson Creek:

Route	Frequency	Start Date	Departure	Arrival
Calgary – Dawson Creek	4x weekly	September 8, 2021	3:30 p.m	4:37 p.m
Dawson Creek – Calgary	4x weekly	September 8, 2021	5:15 p.m	8:13 p.m

Top Copyright Photo: WestJet Link – Pacific Coastal Airlines SAAB 340A C-GPCJ (msn 006) YYC (Chris Sands). Image: 943491.

WestJet Link aircraft slide show:

WestJet introduces WestJet Link

WestJet on November 24, 2017 introduced WestJet Link, a new regional air service operating under a capacity purchase agreement (CPA) with Pacific Coastal Airlines.

Using Pacific Coastal Airlines’ aircraft painted in WestJet colors, WestJet Link will connect the communities of Lethbridge, Lloydminster, Medicine Hat, Cranbrook and Prince George to WestJet’s rapidly expanding network hub at the Calgary International Airport (YYC). These new routes will add to WestJet’s existing leadership position in Calgary, offering more flights and seats to more destinations than any other airline.

All WestJet Link flights will be operated by Pacific Coastal using its fleet of 34-seat Saab 340B aircraft. Each aircraft will include six seats available in WestJet Plus, offering guests advanced boarding, no-charge for two checked bags and seating at the front of the aircraft.

Details of WestJet’s new year-round nonstop service:

Route	Frequency	Days*	Effective
Calgary – Lethbridge	Three times	Daily	March 7, 2018
Calgary – Lloydminster	Once	Daily	March 14, 2018
Calgary – Medicine Hat	Three times	Daily	May 31, 2018
Calgary – Cranbrook	Three times	Daily	March 7, 2018
Calgary – Prince George	Once	Daily	March 14, 2018

*	Reduced frequency on weekends and some holidays

Introductory one-way fares to/from Calgary are available starting from:

Departing	Arriving	Air transportation charges (ATC)		Taxes, fees and charges	Total one-way price from*
Departing	Arriving	Base fare from	Other ATC	Taxes, fees and charges	Total one-way price from*
Lethbridge	Calgary	$60.00	$12.00	$26.83	$98.83
Calgary	Lethbridge	$60.00	$12.00	$42.58	$114.58
Lloydminster	Calgary	$87.00	$12.00	$12.43	$111.43
Calgary	Lloydminster	$87.00	$12.00	$43.93	$142.93
Medicine Hat	Calgary	$75.00	$12.00	$11.83	$98.83
Calgary	Medicine Hat	$75.00	$12.00	$43.33	$130.33
Cranbrook	Calgary	$64.00	$12.00	$22.83	$98.83
Calgary	Cranbrook	$64.00	$12.00	$42.78	$118.78
Prince George	Calgary	$69.00	$12.00	$37.78	$118.78
Calgary	Prince George	$69.00	$12.00	$43.03	$124.03

*	Book by December 4, 2017 (11:59 p.m. MT) for travel between March 7 & June 27, 2018. For Medicine Hat travel from May 31 – June 27, 2018. Blackout dates apply. Visit westjet.com/flight-schedules-new for more information.

For today only, connecting one-way fares to/from Toronto are available at special prices with limited quantities for the new additions to the WestJet network:

Departing	Arriving	Air transportation charges (ATC)		Taxes, fees and charges	Total one-way price from*	Seats Available
Departing	Arriving	Base fare from	Other ATC	Taxes, fees and charges	Total one-way price from*	Seats Available
Lethbridge	Toronto	$97.00	$23.00	$29.23	$149.23	500
Toronto	Lethbridge	$97.00	$23.00	$51.90	$171.90	500
Lloydminster	Toronto	$112.00	$23.00	$14.23	$149.23	200
Toronto	Lloydminster	$112.00	$23.00	$53.85	$188.85	200
Medicine Hat	Toronto	$112.00	$23.00	$14.23	$149.23	500
Toronto	Medicine Hat	$112.00	$23.00	$53.85	$188.85	500
Cranbrook	Toronto	$101.00	$23.00	$25.23	$149.23	500
Toronto	Cranbrook	$101.00	$23.00	$52.42	$176.42	500

*	Book by November 24, 2017 (11:59 p.m. MT) for travel between March 7 & June 27, 2018. For Medicine Hat travel from May 31 – June 27, 2018. Blackout dates apply. Visit westjet.com/flight-schedules-new for more information.

Pacific Coastal Airlines

A privately owned, British Columbia-based regional airline operating from Vancouver International Airport’s South Terminal (YVR), Pacific Coastal is the third largest airline at YVR in annual takeoffs and landings. It flies to 15 airports and connects to more than 50 destinations in the province, from as far east as Cranbrook in the Rocky Mountains and as far north as Prince George and Masset on the legendary island of Haida Gwaii.

Top Copyright Photo: Pacific Coastal SAAB 340 aircraft will now adopt the WestJet livery. Pacific Coastal Airlines (Pacific Coastal.com) SAAB 340A C-GCPU (msn 140) (diver) YVR (Ton Jochems). Image: 912125.

Kiwi Regional Airlines calls it quits after less than a year of operations

Kiwi Regional 340 ZK-KRA (15)(Flt)(KRA)(LR)

Kiwi Regional Airlines (Waikato) has issued this statement:

One of New Zealand’s most established airlines has announced that it has purchased Kiwi Regional Airlines’ SAAB 340A (ZK-KRA) aircraft (below) and will absorb the aircraft and offer employment to the majority of Kiwi Regional Airlines full time staff and absorb them into its operations from the start of August 2016.

Air Chathams has been in existence for over 30 years, and runs a 5-aircraft operation with scheduled services between the Chathams Islands and Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch as well as a regular scheduled service between Whakatane and Auckland.

It has previously announced it would fill the gap left by Air New Zealand’s withdrawal of services between Whanganui and Auckland, starting on August 1, 2016. It had planned to use an 18-seat Metroliner, but will now use Kiwi Regional’s 34-seat SAAB 340A on this route.

Kiwi Regional 340 ZK-KRA (15)(Grd)(KRA)(LRW)

Kiwi Regional Airlines will continue to run its scheduled services until July 30, 2016, and will then run the Whanganui to Auckland service for Air Chathams using Kiwi Regional’s Air Operating Certificate until Air Chathams can move the aircraft onto its own AOC.

Kiwi Regional Airlines passengers booked on flights after midday on July 30 will receive full refunds, or be offered alternative travel on flights before that date. All of Kiwi Regional Airlines’ charters flights with school groups in August and September will still operate.

Kiwi Regional Airlines CEO Ewan Wilson said Kiwi had “a choice to either expand by adding a second aircraft to our own fleet, guaranteeing reliability of service, and splitting the very high compliance costs; or be absorbed into a larger player.”

Kiwi Regional commenced operations in New Zealand on October 27, 2015.

Route Map:

Kiwi Regional 6.16 Route Map

Leon Air starts operations in Spain, will expand this summer

Leon Air (Leon Airlines) (Burgos) is a new airline in Spain. The carrier is commencing 33-seat SAAB 340A operations on April 27 linking Burgos with Barcelona.

Now the upstart airline wants to expand operations starting on June 15 for the summer season until September 15 on the following new routes:

Burgos – Palma de Mallorca

Burgos – Malaga

Burgos – Mahon (Menorca)

Burgos – Alicante

SkyTaxi of Poland is operating its SAAB 340A SP-MRC (msn 143) on the routes above and was previously operated for Good Fly.

All images by Leon Air.

Chautauqua Airlines to be merged into Shuttle America, ending a long career

Republic Airways Holdings (Indianapolis) is an airline holding company that owns Chautauqua Airlines, Republic Airlines (2nd) and Shuttle America. The group is consolidating operations in order to reduce costs.

CEO Bryan Bedford issued a short statement to the employees of the group concerning the closure of Chautauqua Airlines before the end of the year. The group intends to consolidate the Chautuaqua Embraer ERJ operations into the Shuttle America operating certificate. Chautauqua will be shut down.

Chautauqua Airlines was established on May 3, 1973, in Jamestown, Chautauqua County, New York State and began operations on August 1, 1974 using two 15-passenger Beech 99 aircraft. It was one of earliest Allegheny Commuter carriers. It became an USAir Express (later US Airways Express) carrier in 1979.

Besides the Allegheny/USAir/US Airways lineage, Chautauqua has operated under the America West Express, American Connection, Continental Express, Frontier Airlines (2nd), Midwest Connect, Trans World Express and United Express brands.