Airline continues to focus on significant safety and hygiene enhancements to ensure a safe travel journey
CALGARY, AB, June 15, 2020 /CNW/ – WestJet today released its updated July schedule, developed to allow Canadians the pleasure of summer travel while economically supporting communities across the country in safely reopening travel and domestic tourism. In addition, the airline has added flights to select U.S. markets.
To ensure guests can book with confidence, the airline maintains its stringent Safety Above All hygiene program and continues to provide flexibility in booking, change and cancellation policies.
“Today’s schedule reflects our commitment to orderly and safe travel while providing steps to allow Canadians to get out, explore, and take part in critical economic activities like staying in hotels, eating out, visiting tourist attractions or simply just travelling to see friends and family,” said Arved von zur Muehlen, WestJet Chief Commercial Officer. “Governments and Canadians from coast-to-coast are working together to lessen the impact of this pandemic and we are grateful that these efforts have put us in a position to add more options for travel this July.”
From July 5 through August 4, 2020, WestJet will offer operations to 45 destinations including 39 in Canada, five in the U.S. and one in Mexico an increase of approximately 102 per cent more flights from June, but down 76 per cent from July 2019.
Continued von zur Muehlen, “As we emerge from the pandemic, health vigilance must be balanced with the gradual reopening of our economy. WestJet has done our part and spent millions of dollars to ensure the safety and well-being of our guests and our people. We’re ready to get Canadians flying.”
On March 22, WestJet suspended its international and transborder operations. The airline’s schedule now contains flights to key transborder and international destinations including Los Angeles (LAX), Atlanta (ATL) and Las Vegas (LAS).
“Jurisdictions around the world are opening, allowing citizens to begin flying once again which is kickstarting their economies for recovery. We’ve heard from the communities we serve and look forward to having Canadians safely participate and stimulate domestic tourism this summer,” stated von zur Muehlen.
At this time, the airline is planning on operating the following domestic routes and frequencies from July 5 – August 4.
Both flights were travelling to Saskatoon, happened in late May
CBC News · Posted: Jun 08, 2020
A federal government website says two flights travelling to Saskatoon in late May contained people infected with the coronavirus. (Trevor Bothorel/CBC)
The federal government says two flights headed to Saskatoon carried passengers later diagnosed with COVID-19.
A federal website says Air Canada Flight 1129 from Toronto to Saskatoon on May 29 transported a person found to have the novel coronavirus.
One day later, WestJet Flight 3370 from Calgary to Saskatoon carried a passenger later found to have been infectious.
The website said rows four to 10 of the WestJet flight were affected. Row information on the Air Canada flight was not provided.
Anyone who thinks they may have COVID-19 is asked to use the federal government’s self-assessment tool.
The provincial government asks people who might be infected to phone the Saskatchewan Healthline at 811.
A World War Two veteran was treated to a conversation with the Snowbirds after their flight over Saskatoon. As Kyle Benning tells us, the former pilot can relate to the squadron more than most.
WESTJET UPDATES SCHEDULE FROM JUNE 5 THROUGH JULY 4, 2020
WestJet has updated its schedule from June 5 through to July 4, 2020 to address significantly reduced guest demand for air travel while continuing to keep critical economic lifelines open for essential travel and cargo. At this time, WestJet is also extending its temporary transborder and international route suspensions through June 25, 2020. Guests with travel booked after June 5 through July 4, will be proactively notified of their options. Full schedule details are available on westjet.com.
It is through the hard work and dedication of teams across WestJet that we continue to provide safe, on-time air travel throughout Canada. We thank all WestJetters and our airport partners for their support during this time. For information on WestJet’s COVID-19 response including health, safety and cleaning protocols, visit the WestJet COVID-19 site here.
Domestic route suspensions from June 5 through July 4, 2020
Market
Previous frequency
Vancouver – Nanaimo
2x daily
Vancouver – Comox
1x daily
Vancouver – Regina
4x weekly
Vancouver – Saskatoon
1x daily
Vancouver – Winnipeg
3x daily
Vancouver – Fort St. John
1x daily
Vancouver – Cranbrook
1x daily
Vancouver – Ottawa
2x daily
Vancouver – Montreal
6 to 13x weekly
Vancouver – Halifax
6x weekly
Kelowna – Victoria
12x weekly
Calgary – Prince George
1x daily
Calgary – Ottawa
2x daily
Calgary – Montreal
2x daily
Calgary – London, ON
1 to 2x daily
Calgary – Halifax
3x daily
Calgary – St. John’s
1x daily
Edmonton – Comox
8x weekly
Edmonton – Victoria
20x weekly
Edmonton – Kelowna
7x daily
Edmonton – Grande Prairie
13x weekly
Edmonton – Yellowknife
1x daily
Edmonton – Saskatoon
3x daily
Edmonton – Regina
3x daily
Edmonton – Winnipeg
20x weekly
Edmonton – Ottawa
4x weekly
Edmonton – Montreal
3x weekly
Edmonton – Halifax
10x weekly
Edmonton – St. John’s
4x weekly
Winnipeg – Ottawa
1x daily
Winnipeg – Regina
1x daily
Winnipeg – Halifax
1x daily
Toronto – Victoria
4x weekly
Toronto – Regina
10x weekly
Toronto – Saskatoon
12x weekly
Halifax – Montreal
2x daily
The following domestic markets will have a new seasonal start date:
Market
New start date
Calgary – Quebec City
6-Jul-20
Calgary – Charlottetown
5-Jul-20
Winnipeg – Montreal
5-Jul-20
Toronto – Kelowna
5-Jul-20
Toronto – Sydney, NS
5-Jul-20
WESTJET CARGO DELIVERS FLOWERS FOR MOTHER’S DAY
While we may be physically distancing, we know moms will still be feeling the love today. Over the last three weeks, WestJet Cargo has helped deliver 15 tonnes of flowers across Canada — just in time for Mother’s Day.
WESTJET MAKES FREQUENCY UPDATES TO ITS DOMESTIC FLIGHT SCHEDULE FROM MAY 5 THROUGH JUNE 4
WestJet is making additional changes to its domestic flight schedule, from May 5 through June 4, 2020. These changes are required to address significantly reduced guest demand during the COVID-19 crisis.
The following are frequency reductions from May 5-June 4, 2020:
Market
Previous frequency
Updated frequency
Calgary-Lethbridge
6x weekly
3x weekly
Calgary-Medicine Hat
6x weekly
3x weekly
Calgary-Cranbrook
6x weekly
3x weekly
Winnipeg-Saskatoon
3x weekly
2x weekly
Winnipeg-Thunder Bay
3x weekly
2x weekly
The following city pairs have been temporarily removed from May 5-June 4, 2020:
Market
Previous frequency
Halifax-Montreal
1x weekly
These changes are in addition to the network updates announced on Monday, April 22, when the airline announced removing approximately 4,000 weekly flights or 600 daily flights.
While some city pairings have been temporarily removed, we continue to serve the 38 Canadian airports to which we currently operate, ensuring that those with essential travel requirements can get where they need to be and that cargo goods like blood, medical products and food supplies can continue to flow.
The overall demand for travel remains fluid during this ongoing pandemic and we continue to evaluate further reductions. Bookings and full schedule details are available at westjet.com. All transborder and international routes remain suspended at this time through June 4, 2020.
REPATRIATION FLIGHTS
In collaboration with Government of Canada, WestJet has added flights to repatriate Canadians from Costa Rica to Toronto today and on May 2, along with a flight from Belize to Toronto on May 6. Seats are available for booking on westjet.com.
Next scheduled repatriation flights:
Today, April 29, 2020 from San José, Costa Rica (SJO) to Toronto
May 2, 2020 from San José, Costa Rica (SJO) to Toronto
WESTJET UPDATES DOMESTIC FLIGHT SCHEDULE FROM MAY 5 THROUGH JUNE 4
WestJet is making changes to its domestic flight schedule, removing approximately 4,000 weekly flights or 600 daily flights from May 5 through June 4, 2020. These changes are required to address significantly reduced guest demand during the COVID-19 crisis.
While some city pairings have been temporarily removed, we continue to serve the 38 Canadian airports to which we currently operate, ensuring that those with essential travel requirements can get where they need to be and that cargo goods like blood, medical products and food supplies can continue to flow.
The overall demand for travel remains fluid during this ongoing pandemic and we continue to evaluate further reductions. Bookings and full schedule details are available at westjet.com. All transborder and international routes remain suspended at this time through June 4, 2020.
For guests with travel booked after May 5 through June 4, we are proactively notifying them of their options.
The following city pairs have been temporarily removed from May 5-June 4, 2020:
Market
Previous frequency
Vancouver – Nanaimo
2x daily
Vancouver – Comox
1x daily
Vancouver – Regina
4x weekly
Vancouver – Saskatoon
5x weekly
Vancouver – Winnipeg
3x daily
Vancouver – Fort St. John
1x daily
Vancouver – Cranbrook
1x daily
Vancouver – Ottawa
1x daily
Vancouver – Montreal
6x weekly
Kelowna – Victoria
12x weekly
Calgary – Prince George
1x daily
Calgary – Ottawa
2x daily
Calgary – Montreal
13x weekly
Calgary – London, ON
1x daily
Calgary – Halifax
17x weekly
Edmonton – Comox
6x weekly
Edmonton – Victoria
20x weekly
Edmonton – Kelowna
7x daily
Edmonton – Grande Prairie
13x weekly
Edmonton – Yellowknife
1x daily
Edmonton – Saskatoon
3x daily
Edmonton – Regina
3x daily
Edmonton – Winnipeg
20x weekly
Edmonton – Ottawa
2x weekly
Edmonton – Halifax
5x weekly
Winnipeg – Ottawa
1x daily
Winnipeg – Regina
1x daily
Winnipeg – Halifax
1x daily
Toronto – Victoria
4x weekly
Toronto – Edmonton
5 to 7x daily
Toronto – Regina
10x weekly
Toronto – Saskatoon
12x weekly
REPATRIATION FLIGHT SCHEDULE
WestJet has the following international repatriation flights scheduled:
April 20, 2020 from Georgetown (GEO), Guyana to Toronto (YYZ) Departs 3:30 p.m. (local) arrives 9:54 p.m.
April 20, 2020 from Grand Cayman (GCM) to Nassau, Bahamas (NAS) to Toronto (YYZ) Departs 12:00 p.m., 3:13 p.m. (local), arrives 6:16 p.m.
April 23, 2020 from Guatemala City, Guatamala (GUA) to Toronto (YYZ)
WestJet is making changes to its domestic flight schedule to address significantly reduced guest demand during the COVID-19 crisis.
While demand remains low and some city pairings have been temporarily removed, we are maintaining critical lifelines to all 38 Canadian airports that we currently operate to, ensuring that those with essential travel requirements can get where they need to be and that cargo goods like blood, medical products and food supplies can continue to flow. The overall demand for travel remains fluid during this ongoing pandemic and we continue to evaluate further reductions.
For guests with travel after April 16 through May 4, we are proactively notifying them of their travel options.
The following city pairs have been temporarily removed:
Vancouver – Fort St. John 1x daily
Edmonton – Kelowna 1x daily
Edmonton – Saskatoon 3x weekly
Edmonton – Regina 4x weekly
Edmonton – Winnipeg 1x daily
Bookings and full schedule details are available at westjet.com.
REPATRIATION FLIGHT SCHEDULE
Tuesday, April 14 from Port of Spain (POS), Trinidad and Tobago to Toronto (YYZ), Canada on WestJet’s 737-800.
Friday, April 17 from Guatemala City (GUA), Guatemala to Toronto (YYZ), Canada on WestJet’s 737-800.
FLEXIBLE/CHANGE CANCEL POLICY NOW INCLUDES JUNE
We continue to offer our guests flexible change/cancel policies for travel in April, May and June with refund to travel bank for use within 24-months.
From: Department of Finance Canada ~ 30 March 2020
Backgrounder
The Government of Canada recognizes the unprecedented disruption to the air transportation sector resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the beginning of the pandemic, air passenger traffic has declined significantly as governments around the world impose border restrictions and advise their citizens to avoid unnecessary travel as a measure to slow the progression of the disease.
Support to Airports
Airports rely on fees paid by airlines and passengers to sustain their operations. As passenger traffic declines, airports are seeing their revenues fall, while at the same time they need to ensure safe operations.
To help airports reduce cost pressures and preserve cash flow as they deal with the effects of COVID-19 on their revenue, the government is waiving rents paid on ground leases for the 21 airport authorities that form part of the National Airport System and that pay rent to the government. The government will waive rent payments for March 2020 through December 2020. The government is also providing comparable treatment for PortsToronto, which operates Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, by waiving payments made to the federal government on revenues generated by the airport. This will provide relief up to $331.4 million, reflecting payments in the same period of 2018.
By waiving ground lease payments, the government is helping these airport authorities to preserve cash flow during the disruption. This will allow them to redeploy cash to help maintain their operations and to support recovery strategies. This approach is consistent with actions taken to support the sector during previous major disruptions, such as the SARS outbreak in 2003.
The 21 National Airport System airport authorities covered by this measure are not-for-profit, non-share capital corporations that pay rents to operate airports in Canada under long-term leases with Transport Canada. Rents are based on revenues earned from operating the airports and related lands, which are owned by the government.
The 21 airport authorities that will receive relief are:
St. John’s International Airport Authority
Gander International Airport Authority Inc.
Halifax International Airport Authority
Charlottetown Airport Authority Inc.
Saint John Airport Inc.
Greater Moncton International Airport Authority Inc.
Fredericton International Airport Authority
Aéroport de Québec Inc.
Aéroports de Montréal
Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport Authority
Greater Toronto Airports Authority
Greater London International Airports Authority
Thunder Bay International Airports Inc.
Winnipeg Airports Authority Inc.
Regina Airport Authority
Saskatoon Airport Authority
Edmonton Regional Airports Authority
Calgary Airport Authority
Prince George Airport Authority Inc.
Vancouver International Airport Authority
Victoria Airport Authority.
PortsToronto operates the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and pays an annual charge to Transport Canada based on the revenues it earns under the terms of its letters patent. PortsToronto revenues include those generated from operating Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.
NETWORK AND SCHEDULE CHANGES – WestJet announces schedule updates through May 4 and select seasonal route start dates
On Thursday, March 26 WestJet marked the last day of our planned transborder (U.S.) and international (Europe, Mexico, Central America, Caribbean) flying due to the COVID-19 crisis and the closing of international borders.
This is a difficult time as we temporarily say goodbye to these airports that have helped WestJet grow beyond our domestic borders and brought the pleasure and ease of worldwide travel to millions of Canadians.
We thank all of our airport partners, our contractors and our guests for their support and we look forward to resuming flights when we emerge from these turbulent times.
INTERNATIONAL AND TRANSBORDER
As the crisis continues, we have now updated our international and transborder schedule to temporarily remove flying through May 4, 2020. For our guests who have booked their travel after April 22 through May 4, we are proactively notifying you of your travel options.
Seasonal international route starts dates have been updated as follows:
Toronto – Barcelona starts June 5, 2020
Calgary – Rome starts June 4, 2020
Halifax – Manchester has been cancelled for summer 2020. WestJet will be reaccomodating guests on Halifax – London (Gatwick)
DOMESTIC
Our domestic schedule has also now been updated through May 4. Details remain the same as communicated earlier this week (see schedule below) with the exception of Grande Prairie. Due to newly reduced airport operating hours, we have reduced the daily Calgary – Grand Prairie schedule by two flights. WestJet will continue to fly once daily. In addition, Edmonton – Grande Prairie has been suspended until further notice.
Select seasonal domestic routes will start July 3, 2020 including:
Calgary – Whitehorse
Calgary – Dawson Creek
Calgary – Windsor
Toronto – Deer Lake
Halifax – Gander
For our guests who have booked their travel prior to July 3, we are proactively notifying you of your travel options.
We understand the uncertainty our guests, WestJetters and partners face, and we thank them for their continued patience.
BY ANNA MCMILLAN GLOBAL NEWS ~ Posted March 10, 2020
Heavy-duty cleaning measures are in place at high-traffic areas in the Saskatoon airport amid the novel coronavirus outbreak. Devon Latchuk / Global News
The chances of contracting COVID-19 at Saskatoon international airport are slim, but airport staff are taking precautionary measures as the outbreak spreads across the globe.
“We’re low-risk right now,” airport president Stephen Maybury told Global News. “The focus is on being preventative and being prepared.”
The airport takes direction from the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Saskatchewan Health Authority, and has emergency plans in place should the threat of a COVID-19 pandemic be realized.
For now, busy areas including check-in kiosks and security are undergoing enhanced cleaning with a high-grade disinfectant, Maybury said.
Travellers who move through Saskatoon may face additional screening questions about their travel history, he added.
Visitor numbers have been relatively steady since news of the novel coronavirus broke, but Maybury said that could change.“[It’s] way too early to be able to quantify that,” he said.
“That said, I think you’d be naive to think there won’t be an impact — some level of a ripple effect in the future. So we’ll watch that closely over the next couple of months, but nothing to report at this point.”
The airport also hasn’t seen an elevated number of customer complaints or concerns, he added.
He offered some simple advice to travellers: be prepared.
