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Tag: Region of Waterloo (Kitchener) YKF

  • New airline to offer service between Waterloo and Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal

    From Global News – link to story – Thanks JM

    By Kevin Nielsen Global News ~ September 15, 2020

    The passenger terminal at the Region of Waterloo International Airport in Breslau.
    The passenger terminal at the Region of Waterloo International Airport in Breslau. Nick Westoll / File / Global News

    A new airline says it will offer service between Waterloo and Ottawa, Toronto, Windsor and Montreal going forward.

    Pivot Airlines says it has reached an agreement with the Region of Waterloo to provide the service once it receives regulatory approval.

    Brock Henderson, Pivot’s vice president of operations control, told Global News that “tickets are anticipated to cost between $90 and about $250 plus taxes and fees.”

    He described Pivot Airlines as “a new company which draws from a legacy of 25 years as a partner carrier for two different Canadian major airlines.”

    Henderson says it is also looking to expand to two other Ontario markets which have recently lost service with an eye towards cross-border travel down the road.STORY CONTINUES BELOW ADVERTISEMENT

    “Our legacy is in transborder travel and we will also be closely monitoring the situation in the United States for future expansion plans,” he said while noting that it will likely be at least a year before Pivot offers trips south of the border.

    Henderson says the company is still working out details on when its planes will begin to carry passengers.

    “Pivot is finalizing the routes, dates and schedule over the coming month,” he said. “We are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation as students return to school and expect that we will have the required predictability to commence service within the next few months. “

    Regional chair Karen Redman welcomed the airline to Waterloo Region.

    “As the 10th largest urban area in Canada, our residents made 154,300 trips by air last year to the destinations announced today,” she said.

    Pivot Airlines says it will use Canadian-made made CRJ Jets and De Havilland Dash 8 Regional Turboprops as it moves people to other markets.

    “The regional airline model in Canada is changing, and we are ideally positioned to play a critical role,” the company stated. “We believe as people return to travel, modern regional airports will play a larger role than what we have seen in the past.”

    It says the agreement with the region will also allow it to build maintenance, operations and office facilities at the airport.

    “These are challenging times – yet COVID-19 will end and demand for air travel is growing. If you need to travel by air, we urge residents to support local air service. We believe Pivot’s new service will encourage investment and create jobs in Waterloo Region.”

    Currently, Westjet is the only major Canadian airline offering service from Waterloo Regional Airport with weekly service to Calgary.

    Sunwing also flies to some vacation destinations during the winter months.

    © 2020 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

  • WestJet releases July schedule to get Canadians exploring again

    From WestJet, an Alberta Partnership

    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.

    (more…)

  • Sunwing introduces new weekly flight service from Waterloo to Cancun, Mexico

    Provided by Sunwing Vacations Inc./Globe Newswire

    TORONTO, July 17, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Residents of the Waterloo Region can look forward to twice as many ways to escape the cold this winter; Sunwing is doubling its destination offerings from the Region of Waterloo International Airport with the addition of a new direct weekly flight service to Cancun, Mexico. The travel company is anticipated to be the only carrier offering this service which will operate from December 18, 2019 until April 8, 2020. In addition, their popular flight service to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic will operate weekly between December 16, 2019 and April 13, 2020.

    Sunwing Vacations Inc.

    Cancun has been a long-time favourite destination of Canadian sun-seekers. From the vibrant nightlife of Cancun’s Hotel Zone to the pristine white-sand shores of Playa Mujeres and the famous Mayan sites of Riviera Maya, there’s something for everyone to explore in this Mexican hotspot. Travellers can choose from a wide range of world-class resorts along the coast and explore all that Cancun has to offer on a Sunwing Experiences excursion.

    President of Tour Operations for Sunwing, Andrew Dawson, welcomed the news. “We are delighted to be returning to the Waterloo Region and to be offering twice as many flight services this winter. Cancun is one of our most popular vacation destinations and we’re sure it will be well received by our customers.”

    Chris Wood, General Manager at the Region of Waterloo International Airport also celebrated the news, “We are proud to welcome Sunwing back this year! Sunwing’s weekly service provides our community with an easy escape from the cold. Cancun, Mexico is a welcome addition to our existing Punta Cana service. I would like to thank Sunwing and all the people that support local air service. This additional destination is a direct response to each of you making the choice to fly from home!”

    Families who take advantage of this new weekly flight service can enjoy an action-packed stay at Grand Sunset Princess All Suites and Spa Resort in Riviera Maya, that has something for guests of all ages. A popular family resort in Cancun is the newly-opened Riu Palace Costa Mujeres, offering accommodation options for families of five or more and complimentary, unlimited access to Splash Water World water park on-site. Travellers seeking an adults only getaway can choose from a range of popular resorts such as Hideaway at Royalton Riviera Cancun where guests benefit from an exclusive beachfront, restaurant and pool complex while still enjoying access to all the amenities of the wider resort.

    All Sunwing vacation packages include return flights on Sunwing Airlines where passengers can sit back and relax while on board, with award-winning inflight service, complimentary non-alcoholic beverage service and buy on board selection of snacks and light meals including the brand-new Tex Mex Grilled Chicken Wrap inspired by Food Network Canada Celebrity Chef, Lynn Crawford. Passengers also benefit from a generous complimentary 23kg checked luggage allowance. For additional perks, including priority check-in and security line access*, customers can upgrade to Elite Plus from just $50 per sector.

    For more information or to book, visit www.sunwing.ca or contact your travel agent.

    *Available at select Canadian airports.

  • WestJet hopes daytime flight will bring back flyers at Waterloo

    Aug 08, 2018 by Greg Mercer  Waterloo Region Record

    BRESLAU — WestJet is ending its early-morning flight out of Waterloo Region, and is returning to a daytime departure that some hope will bring more traffic back to the regional airport.

    The changes take effect Thursday to the last remaining national passenger flight serving the Region of Waterloo International Airport.

    WestJet has altered the daily flight’s schedule three times since last November, first changing it from an evening departure and then ending an unpopular red-eye return over complaints from passengers.

    The new 4:30 p.m. departure to Calgary will replace the previous 6 a.m. flight, which left the airport empty of travellers for most of the day.

    “Thank God,” said Lorne Miller, who operates the Aviator Cafe in the departure lounge. “We couldn’t make a dime with the old schedule because no one was there to buy anything.”

    Miller said he expects passenger volumes to pick up with the new afternoon departure, which gets passengers into Calgary at around 6:30 p.m. The return flight will have passengers land in Kitchener at about 3:30 p.m.

    He plans to reopen his food kiosk in the airport lobby that he’d closed because of a drop-off in customers.

    “My staff hated me,” he said. “We had to open up at 3 a.m. and be out of there by 7 a.m. Now I’m expecting things to grow at the airport.”

    The only other passenger flight serving the local airport is an 18-minute service by FlyGTA Airlines to the Toronto Island Airport, geared toward business commuters.

    WestJet says it made the change in response to passengers’ demands.

    “We heard from our guests that a daytime flight was most convenient and we are glad to be able to provide this to the community,” said Lauren Stewart, a spokesperson for the airline.

    Travellers, meanwhile, are celebrating the end of a flight that left the local airport at 6 a.m.

    “I’m thrilled that WestJet is ditching its mind-boggling departure time from Waterloo Region to a convenient time in the late afternoon,” said Victoria’s Katherine Dedyna, who flies frequently out of the Breslau airport.

    Airport administration, who have long tried to convince airlines to bring other flight options to the terminal, said it’s too early to say how passengers might respond to the new schedule.

    But an afternoon departure will make things easier on its staff.

    “The new flight is better for us from an operational perspective and staffing, but doesn’t allow as many connections for passengers once in Calgary,” said Chris Wood, the airport’s general manager.

    “So it remains to be seen how it performs for WestJet.”

    gmercer@therecord.com