New Leaf dumps flights from Kelowna to Winnipeg
WestJet’s in and NewLeaf is out when it comes to flying between Kelowna and Winnipeg.
“WestJet pre-empted NewLeaf with its spring and summer schedule and as a result WestJet will operate four flights per week between Kelowna and Winnipeg from May through September and NewLeaf will do none,” said Kelowna Airport director Sam Samaddar.
“Winnipeg is the biggest domestic market currently without a nonstop link to Kelowna, so it’s very, very positive news. It’s a valuable connection.”
After much publicity and delays, ultra-low-cost ticket reseller NewLeaf launched last summer with a myriad of routes, including Kelowna’s only non-stops to Winnipeg, Regina and Saskatoon.
WestJet, which already flies to numerous cities from Kelowna, responded by putting on it’s own Kelowna-Winnipeg flights.
Both airlines suspended the seasonal route after the summer, but only WestJet will bring it back.
NewLeaf also suspended the services to Saskatoon and Regina after the summer and isn’t resuming them.
“The upcoming summer schedule NewLeaf announced is based on having only three aircraft (leased and operated by Kelowna-based Flair Air),” said Samaddar.
“Kelowna isn’t on the schedule at all, but it might be again if NewLeaf is able to bring in two more planes.”
Kelowna was also left off NewLeaf’s winter schedule of flights to sunspots in Arizona and Florida.
On the current winter schedule, there are only a handful of New Leaf flights between Kelowna and Edmonton.
The rest of the activity is between Abbotsford, Edmonton, Halifax, Hamilton, Winnipeg and Moncton.
Regina, Saskatoon, Victoria and Kamloops lost NewLeaf service.
Going forward, especially leasing only three planes, NewLeaf’s philosophy is fewer routes with higher frequencies.
Kelowna airport serves 1.7 million passengers a year with 33 departures a day with nine airlines to regular destinations such as Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Cranbrook, Prince George, Whitehorse, Seattle and Toronto and winter seasonal service to Las Vegas, Phoenix, Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Cancun and Varadero.