Canadian carrier WestJet announced on Monday that some changes are coming to its schedule in the coming months. The airline has suspended flights between Halifax and Europe for the summer season.
The airline said the announcement is a strategic decision to address the aviation ecosystem's capacity constraints. As a result, the carrier will stop some transatlantic flights from select Canadian cities.
“Disappointing news”
WestJet previously flew direct flights to London Gatwick, Dublin, Glasgow, and Paris from Halifax. The carrier’s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, John Weatherill, spoke about the airline’s decision in a statement to Pax Global Media.
“We understand this is disappointing news for our guests and the local community. As we continue to responsibly balance our schedule alongside operational requirements, capacity constraints and the deployment of our aircraft across Canada, we are making these difficult decisions now to enable us to re-position our investments to best serve the province for years to come.” - John Weatherill, WestJet Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer
Weatherill also mentioned that Halifax remains integral to the airline’s network. In reaction to the news, Halifax Stanfield International Airport spoke about the changes in a post on Twitter.
"We’re disappointed WestJet won't be back this summer…but we understand they are dealing with capacity challenges not a lack of interest or support in serving this market," the airport said.
Year-round, WestJet flies to three destinations from Halifax Airport: Calgary International Airport, Edmonton International Airport, and Toronto Pearson International Airport. The airline connects passengers to both domestic and international destinations seasonally, which includes Vancouver, Winnipeg, Cancún, and Orlando.
The carrier has served Halifax for nearly 20 years and said tickets for the summer 2023 European routes from the Canadian city were never available for sale.
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Same plan, different focus
WestJet said it would continue its plan of meeting the travel demands of Canadians throughout its entire network while additionally beefing up its presence across Eastern Canada by offering flights for leisure travelers. The carrier also said its mission is to provide guests with as much advance notice as possible while giving firm clarity on any additional routes that could be axed.
The airline’s summer schedule will be announced in the coming weeks as the carrier reportedly looks forward to enhancing domestic coast-to-coast flights that will include increased service between Halifax and Western Canada.
In a significant change, WestJet shifted its route schedule late last year to exclusively operate long-haul routes from Calgary, its strongest market. Frank Satusky, the carrier’s Director of Commercial Strategy, said the change is needed.
“We must focus. Where we can do things and succeed, we will,” Satusky said. “Calgary is exactly that. It is our strongest market. It is a challenge to refocus and there's a way to go.”
What the future holds
The airline noted that it remains committed to engaging with local stakeholders and community members to evaluate the return of transatlantic service from Halifax in 2024, as well as for all network opportunities moving forward, according to Pax Global Media.
Westjet recently announced the acquisition of 42 additional Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, which will benefit the airline in reaching its goal of increasing its domestic and international network.
Source: Pax Global Media