Westjet announced today that they will launch a small regional fleet by the end of 2013.
WestJet confirmed Wednesday it will launch a low-fare, no frills regional airline, intensifying competition in smaller domestic markets with rival Air Canada (TSX:AC.B) for business and leisure class travellers.
“It’s the next logical step in WestJet’s evolution,” president and CEO Gregg Saretsky said on a conference call Wednesday.
What do you think of this announcement? I think it’s great. It will create more jobs, and more competition within the regional market.
Will be great when they add a Saulte Saint Marie to/from Toronto Pearson flight!
I hope it means that they will return to smaller markets that they’d previously pulled out of. When they were here (YSJ), they only operated 3-4 days/week, with fewer flights, but the same prices as Air Canada. I never flew WestJet because their only direct flight was to Toronto and the connection to Montreal (where family lives) was inconvenient.
Flyingdutch – they used to fly to Sault Ste Marie, but pulled it. I think due to competition from Air Canada who then promptly jacked their prices back up. I took the Greyhound to and from the Soo to Toronto for years because 11 hours on the bus was better than paying $800 for a 1 hour flight.
Porter was my godsend this year though. And I booked my Spring trip to the Soo when they had their 50% off sale. $250. I still can’t get over how happy it makes me to get an affordable flight and not have to do all nighters on the bus any more!