WestJet increasing its flights as coronavirus pandemic continues

Jul 14 2020, 2:26 pm

WestJet has updated its flying schedule to feature more than 200 flights daily to 48 destinations amid the continued COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the airline, the update will expand their August schedule and update July flying, and flights will travel across Canada, the United States, the Caribbean, Mexico and Europe.

WestJet has said that this updated schedule is “supported by the layered framework,” that the company has put into place to ensure Canadians are travelling safely and responsibly.

This is why the airline says it created the Safety Above All hygiene program.

The company has said that it will also continue to provide flexibility in booking, change, and cancellation policies for guests.

“With the many safeguards and procedures in place, we are certain Canadians can safely resume travel to destinations across our network,” Arved von zur Muehlen, WestJet’s chief commercial officer, said.

“We continue to adapt our schedule to meet the needs of our guests and through our continued investments economies can begin to recover with the support of domestic tourism driven by air travel.”

There will be an increase in domestic frequencies between July 15 through September 4, 2020.

Operations will be offered to 46 destinations including 39 in Canada, five in the US, two in Europe, one in the Caribbean and one in Mexico.

Effective August 20, 2020, there will also be a reintroduction to the non-stop Dreamliner service from Calgary to London (Gatwick) and Paris.

This reintroduction will also continue to serve “five key transborder destinations.” These destinations include Atlanta, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York (LaGuardia) and Orlando.

Additionally, service will be offered to Cancun, Mexico, and operations will also resume operations once a week to Montego Bay, Jamaica.

“Despite these headwinds, we are committed to ensuring air travel remains affordable and accessible to Canadians from coast-to-coast during this difficult time,” von zur Muehlen said.

“While an increase in flying is a positive sign, we are prudently monitoring our guests’ loads to ensure we are managing our airline and the health of our guests and crew responsibly.”

According to the airline, the August schedule reflects approximately a 10% increase in flying in July. It also reflects a decrease of 75% less flying from August 2019.

The schedule also includes specific frequency reductions and temporary domestic route suspensions. The reductions and suspensions will take place across Canada due to the continued closure of borders and provincial travel restrictions.

“The patchwork of domestic travel restrictions and quarantine periods that are currently in place within our own borders are severely limiting Canada’s economic recovery and putting hundreds of thousands of jobs in our critical industry at risk,” von zur Muehlen added.

“We must standardize intra-provincial travel advice to ensure Canadians can move safely and freely across our country.”

Irelyne LaveryIrelyne Lavery

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