WestJet adds second daily Sydney flight to Halifax

Increase in service to accommodate ‘high volumes’ of traffic

Discount carrier WestJet will have its regional airline fly twice daily between Sydney and Halifax beginning in March.

WestJet Encore was first introduced to Cape Bretoners a year ago, offering a daily Halifax service to compete with Air Jazz.

“This additional service will allow for better timing and connectivity into the Halifax market,” WestJet spokeswoman Lauren Stewart said in an email Tuesday.

Twice daily return flights between Sydney and Halifax begin on March 13, she said.

Stewart said the airline is continuing to increase flight options in domestic markets that have “high volumes” of business and leisure traffic.

“We demonstrate this commitment in the addition of these flights between Halifax and Sydney.”

The Halifax-bound flights will leave Sydney at 5:50 a.m. and 2 p.m., while the flights from Halifax to Sydney depart at 12:35 p.m. and 9:25 p.m.

WestJet Encore, a wholly owned subsidiary of WestJet, is a no-frills carrier using the 78-seat Bombardier Q400 NextGen turboprop aircraft.

Flights to and from Halifax are typically 50 minutes to an hour in duration.

The expansion of WestJet’s regional service last year was the largest on the east coast since it began operations out of Halifax in 2003.

The new flight will give Cape Breton travellers a sixth daily flight to Halifax.

When the new flight begins in March the one-way price for an economy class ticket will range between $181.84 and $193.35.

The airline has also had a daily non-stop Sydney-to-Toronto seasonal service from May to October since 2009.

WestJet’s announcement Monday increased service between dozens of destinations in both its domestic and international markets.

Changes in flight frequency in some markets will begin as early as Oct. 27.

“These increases enable communities to stimulate development, improve infrastructure and grow their economies,” Bob Cummings, WestJet executive vicepresident of commercial, said in a news release.

WestJet currently services more than 100 destinations in 20 countries.