WestJet launches new regional carrier service

Feb 11, 2013 | 11:29 PM

Kurtis Doering

paNOW Staff

A new WestJet service is promising more planes and more routes. But those hoping for a direct flight from Regina to Winnipeg may be disappointed.

The airline announced it’s Encore regional carrier service Monday, which adds Fort St. John and Nanaimo to their network. More flights between Calgary, Fort St. John, Vancouver, and Victoria will start in June.

As for Regina, Airport Authority President and CEO Jim Hunter says the only change will be in planes for one of their four daily flights to Calgary starting in August.

A change to WestJet’s new Q400 turboprop plane from a 737 jetliner will mean less seats for that flight.

“It’s positive in the sense that we maintain the frequency” Hunter said. “I would have liked to have added this flight to the four we had… but we’ll continue to talk to WestJet about that.”

These are early days for the new service, which revolves around the Canadian-made Q400s. Along with the two the airline is putting into service this June, five more are expected to be added to the fleet by the end of 2013. The company says they have firm orders for 20 aircraft over the next six years.

Hunter expects more changes to come from WestJet as the new service ramps up over the next year.

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