Cleared for takeoff
WestJet begins daily service to Calgary
Welcome to Lethbridge, WestJet.
On Thursday, the first arrival of a WestJet plane and its subsequent takeoff was celebrated at the Lethbridge Airport.
The second-largest air carrier in Canada will be operating three daily flights under the “Westjet Link” program.
Lorne Hickey, Reeve of Lethbridge County, said a partnership with WestJet was years in the making.
Mayor Chris Spearman said the arrival of WestJet to the community will provide growth for both economic development and tourism.
“It enhances the ability for us to attract people to our region,” he said. “It enhances the ability for us to attract more events to our region and to make Lethbridge a really vibrant community in southwest Alberta.”
He added the community at large has a role to play in making the service a success.
“People have to use the airport for it to be successful,” he said. “Don’t drive to Calgary. Don’t drive to Great Falls. Fly from Lethbridge at every opportunity.”
All WestJet Link flights will be operated by Pacific Coastal Airlines, a B.C.-based airline operating scheduled, charter and cargo services, with a head office in Richmond, B.C.
In November, the airline announced a capacity purchase agreement with WestJet to operate its 34-seat Saab 340B aircraft painted in WestJet colours.
“This is huge for our company,” said Laura Nadin-Young, Director of Airports for Pacific Coastal Airlines. “This partnership with WestJet takes us in a whole new direction.”
Service to Lethbridge is part of a number of expansions tied to the deal, including service to Medicine Hat, Cranbrook, Lloydminster and Prince George to the WestJet Hub at the Calgary International Airport.
Pacific Coastal is not a company free of controversy, however.
In August 2008, a Pacific Coastal Airlines seaplane crashed near Alice Lake, B.C., killing five people. An investigation found the plane had stalled while attempting to make a steep climb over a ridge.
A few months later, in November of that year, seven people were killed after a Pacific Coastal Airlines seaplane crashed on the western coast of B.C.
An investigation found the crash was caused as a result of poor decision-making by the pilot.
Nadin-Young said she could not speak to the specific incidents but that the airline has “learned from past experience.”
“Safety is our first priority at Pacific Coastal,” she said. “We have a huge safety team now, and they are involved in our training right from pilots, to flight attendants, to our customer service agents.
“We take it very seriously. We’ve made many changes.”
Robert Palmer, Manager of Public Affairs for WestJet, said while they were aware of demand in the community, they did not previously have access to the type of aircraft needed for a market the size of Lethbridge.
“What this capacity purchase agreement with Pacific Coastal allows us to do is have access to their Saab 34B, which has 34 seats,” Palmer said. “It’s much more appropriate for a city and trading region this size.”
Flight frequency in combination with the number of seats is key to establishing service in a community.
“We’ve pegged (Lethbridge) at three flights per day, with two on Saturdays to start with,” he said, adding the next step will be ongoing monitoring of flight loads.
“I can tell you the forward bookings look very strong, and that bodes well for the service.”
He said with competition for customers in the area, there could be some fluctuations in seat pricing in the coming months.
“What will be proven out is that we will have lowered airfares by between 30 and 50 per cent,” he said. “And we will have stimulated market travel by as much as 90 per cent.”
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