internet Posted May 6, 2020 Share Posted May 6, 2020 I was trying to convey my thanks to those people at Canadian and hoped that they had favours returned to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AIP Posted May 6, 2020 Share Posted May 6, 2020 47 minutes ago, Kip Powick said: If you are referring to getting it back from AC I personally feel the acrimony during the AC/CP "merger" has pretty much become a distant, dark memory but we at CP, (pilots), got it back...in the back.....I lost 10 years seniority. In the merger but for me, it really matters not...I was punted through the goal posts 2 years later, as was the Truckasaurus Rex, and I have to admit...it was a great 15 years in the Industry... The age factor and time of the merger meant I never flew with one AC pilot, and all the ex WD and CP drivers were a pleasure to spend time with in the pointy end ...except one guy and everyone who flew the T-Rex knew who he was ....... Barking up the wrong tree there Kip. I hope you enjoy your retirement , but for the betterment of all, let sleeping dogs lie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boestar Posted May 6, 2020 Share Posted May 6, 2020 When I worked on the front line in Maintenance we would always assist "other Airlines" if they needed something. When you took the higher ups out of the equation it was just mechanics trying to get a plane flying. It didnt matter what colour was on the tail. One thing in this industry to remember, Be good to every one because tomorrow they could be your boss. Many time I had someone come to me on the ramp and ask if they could borrow XXXX. Yup no problem..."Need a hand" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 6, 2020 Share Posted May 6, 2020 WestJet will make it through COVID-19, but may not recover to previous size, warns CEO 6 May 2020Canadian Aviation News News from Financial Post – link to story The head of WestJet said the unprecedented collapse in demand for air travel as a result of the virus means it must decide what size of fleet will be commercially viable for the next several years Parked WestJet planes are seen through the windows of the Calgary International airport which was almost deserted amid the COVID-19 pandemic on Wednesday, April 29, 2020.Gavin Young/Postmedia Amanda Stephenson, Calgary Herald – May 6, 2020 The effect of COVID-19 on WestJet has been so devastating that the company may never return to its pre-pandemic size, CEO Ed Sims said Tuesday. In an exclusive interview with Postmedia, the head of the Calgary-based airline said the unprecedented collapse in demand for air travel as a result of the virus means WestJet must decide what size of fleet will be commercially viable for the next several years. “We might not be our previous size for a long time, if ever,” Sims said. “We just might not get back there.” Still, Sims said he has “unequivocal” confidence that WestJet — which prior to the pandemic had 14,000 employees and flew to more than 100 destinations in 24 countries — will survive COVID-19 and be a part of Alberta’s eventual economic recovery. He said the airline has a capable team, the solid backing of its owners (Toronto-based Onex Corp.), and the assurances of the federal government. “In one conversation I had with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, he said to me that the federal government is committed to WestJet flying Canadians for many, many years to come, and I take a lot of comfort and solace from that statement,” Sims said. Before the pandemic, WestJet had been a bright spot in the Alberta economy. While many of the province’s other major employers contracted as the price of oil declined, WestJet has spent much of the past five years in aggressive expansion mode, building out its network in preparation for the launch of its Boeing Dreamliner program last year. Before COVID-19 hit, WestJet was using those state-of-the-art planes to fly its first transatlantic routes to London-Gatwick, Paris and Dublin — and had planned to launch a direct flight from Calgary to Rome this month. WestJet president and CEO Ed Sims, left, and Tawfiq Popatia, a managing director at Onex, stand next to one of the engines of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in a WestJet hanger on Monday, May 13, 2019. Gavin Young / Postmedia But COVID-19 has severely clipped WestJet’s wings, forcing it to suspend all commercial transborder and international flights. Of the company’s 181 aircraft, 135 have been parked. More than half of its employees have been temporarily furloughed. And Sims said WestJet is considering whether it will have to defer or cancel future scheduled deliveries of the Dreamliner. “It’s utterly disheartening and dispiriting,” he said. “It’s very hard to see something that you’ve built so carefully and thoughtfully over the last four or five years dismantled.” As a private company, WestJet has not made public the extent of the financial losses it has taken. (Competitor Air Canada, which is publicly traded, said its own losses topped $1 billion last quarter.) However, WestJet has been operating in crisis mode since March 1, when bookings began to “fall through the floor” with the increasingly dire news reports out of China and Italy. Sims said in the worst days of early March, when cancellations were outstripping new bookings and before the airline made the decision to temporarily furlough half its staff, WestJet was burning through cash at a rate of about $25 million per day. WestJet has been able to access the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy program, which provides a 75 per cent wage top-up for eligible employers, to keep many of its furloughed employees on the payroll — even though there is no work for them to do. But that program expires in early June, making its renewal Sims’ first priority in what he says are “daily” conversations he is having with the federal government. WestJet is also seeking federally backed credit support to help the airline maintain liquidity until the worst of the crisis is over. “We are not looking for taxpayer cash,” Sims said. “We are looking for a facility . . . that would essentially give us the peace of mind to know that if this goes on for another three months, six months, 12 months, that we can continue to operate.” The number of parked WestJet Boeing 737 planes has slowly grown at the Calgary International Airport amid the COVID-19 pandemic on April 21, 2020. Gavin Young/Postmedia Sims said he doesn’t expect a recovery in air travel demand until the fourth quarter of 2020, in time for the critical holiday season. But even then, he doesn’t anticipate business to return to normal. While domestic air travel will likely recover first, followed by transborder travel, international travel to Europe and beyond will take longer, he said. The uncertainty around when exactly Canadians will feel comfortable travelling to Europe is why the company’s Dreamliner expansion plans are now up in the air, Sims said. (WestJet originally planned to take possession of a total of 10 Dreamliners by 2021, with an option to buy 10 more.) “We have to be very conscious that these are very, very expensive pieces of equipment and no one is served by having expensive equipment sitting on runway aprons instead of operating,” Sims said. “It’s a consideration, not just for the 787 but for broader aspects of our fleet.” Still, Sims said at the very least, he wants to resume flying to WestJet’s original four European destinations — London, Paris, Dublin and Rome — as soon as it is safe to do so. “As soon as I see positive signs of demand, and signs of encouragement in Europe that they are now actively containing the spread of the virus, then I want to get back to a position of operating those 787s out of Calgary,” he said. “I firmly believe that we will be a critical part of Alberta’s recovery.” Share this: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conehead Posted May 6, 2020 Share Posted May 6, 2020 I don't think that's any way to inspire confidence, to say that they might never return to where they were before. Yes, it will take years, but it will take years for everyone else as well. That's not good leadership. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 6, 2020 Share Posted May 6, 2020 1 minute ago, conehead said: I don't think that's any way to inspire confidence, to say that they might never return to where they were before. Yes, it will take years, but it will take years for everyone else as well. That's not good leadership. But it does establish a tone for what happens next. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conehead Posted May 6, 2020 Share Posted May 6, 2020 2 minutes ago, Marshall said: But it does establish a tone for what happens next. Well, I guess it does. As if anyone doesn't know there is a massive downsizing coming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FA@AC Posted May 6, 2020 Share Posted May 6, 2020 21 minutes ago, conehead said: I don't think that's any way to inspire confidence, to say that they might never return to where they were before. Yes, it will take years, but it will take years for everyone else as well. That's not good leadership. It wouldn't be good leadership to suggest that things are a lot better than they are either. It's really unfortunate, but I think that a lot of people who work in our industry are going to have to look elsewhere for employment for the foreseeable future. It's only responsible for a CEOs to level with their staff about the fact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MD2 Posted May 6, 2020 Share Posted May 6, 2020 1 hour ago, conehead said: I don't think that's any way to inspire confidence, to say that they might never return to where they were before. Yes, it will take years, but it will take years for everyone else as well. That's not good leadership. I tend to agree, with much contradiction and little inspiration, don't exactly see the point of this interview! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FA@AC Posted May 6, 2020 Share Posted May 6, 2020 11 minutes ago, MD2 said: I tend to agree, with much contradiction and little inspiration, don't exactly see the point of this interview! WestJet is a large company and a good employer. The outlook of its CEO might make, you know, a business story? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadaEH Posted May 7, 2020 Share Posted May 7, 2020 6 hours ago, FA@AC said: It wouldn't be good leadership to suggest that things are a lot better than they are either. It's really unfortunate, but I think that a lot of people who work in our industry are going to have to look elsewhere for employment for the foreseeable future. It's only responsible for a CEOs to level with their staff about the fact. Nailed it. The level of optimism/hope from the employee group at large needs a reality check. The false hope of things getting better fast sets a bad tone. I prefer the doom and gloom because that's exactly how bad it is. This is as honest as you can get and people need to realize they better polish up their resumes and start looking for the next job because for a lot of people that's the reality they face but have chosen to avoid acknowledging. I also think the statements are directed to the government equally as much as the workforce and general public. Of course we want to grow and of course we want to be bigger than we are today. We can't do it without government support so help us (airline) help you (economy). Get moving on the loans you keep promising us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FA@AC Posted May 7, 2020 Share Posted May 7, 2020 28 minutes ago, CanadaEH said: We can't do it without government support so help us (airline) help you (economy). Get moving on the loans you keep promising us. Dagger suggested in a post (on which thread I can't remember) that government likely sees it as incumbent on the airlines to state where they're at and to set out their business plans for the next couple of years before it would decide what support to provide. Calin laid it out for investors and employees in the Q1 results on Monday, and Ed did so in the news piece linked by Marshall. Both are talking to government, so perhaps we'll soon hear news of what help aside from the generous CEWS programs they're prepared to offer. And yeah, there are some in the employee group who need a reality check. At AC we have a few FAs on private discussion boards insisting that they should be earning danger pay (LOL), a few sitting at home on 75% taxpayer-funded pay who are livid that AC isn't topping their salary up to 100% while they sit at home, and a few who are angry that they aren't constantly being hailed as heroes for doing what they get paid to do. The majority are far more sensible, mercifully. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super 80 Posted May 7, 2020 Share Posted May 7, 2020 I much prefer having been levelled with in that I am probably only safe until October than a family member who is getting a mandatory Friday pep talk every week about how there is nothing to worry about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dagger Posted May 7, 2020 Share Posted May 7, 2020 11 hours ago, FA@AC said: Dagger suggested in a post (on which thread I can't remember) that government likely sees it as incumbent on the airlines to state where they're at and to set out their business plans for the next couple of years before it would decide what support to provide. Calin laid it out for investors and employees in the Q1 results on Monday, and Ed did so in the news piece linked by Marshall. Both are talking to government, so perhaps we'll soon hear news of what help aside from the generous CEWS programs they're prepared to offer. And yeah, there are some in the employee group who need a reality check. At AC we have a few FAs on private discussion boards insisting that they should be earning danger pay (LOL), a few sitting at home on 75% taxpayer-funded pay who are livid that AC isn't topping their salary up to 100% while they sit at home, and a few who are angry that they aren't constantly being hailed as heroes for doing what they get paid to do. The majority are far more sensible, mercifully. I saw Jerry Dias basically telling the feds in a news release that their financial support should make all of his airline members whole going forward. It isn't going to happen. The industry is going to downsize, then build up slowly as we get greater demand, and that greater demand isn't going to happen fast unless and until the COVID issue recedes to the point where the vast majority of people feel it is safe to travel for tourism, conferences, business meetings - i.e. situations that are either non-essential or can be conducted virtually. Until then, we are heading to a layoff scenario for excess employees, perhaps after early retirements and voluntary leaves reduce the surplus staff. Since passenger demand is low, cargo rates will remain up and that will sustain some all-cargo activity for pilots and IAM people beyond the skeleton network of passenger flights. Some Unifor people have to man the airports and call centres, and perhaps work virtually. That said, there is no way around the decline in business, and Unifor and the others would be more honest to convey that message to their members. That way, young flight attendants or ticket agents particular might consider moving on, going back to school, whatever, rather than being lulled into believing that come the summer and ad infinitum that the government - meaning the taxpayers - are going to give them a fully paid job sitting at home or jogging outside while doing nothing for their employer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gumbi Posted May 7, 2020 Share Posted May 7, 2020 That article could be seen as a “subtle” message to whoever has to officially weigh-in on the AC/Transat transaction... just sayin’... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 11, 2020 Share Posted May 11, 2020 WestJet Update: 10 May • Schedule to 4 July 2020 11 May 2020Canadian Aviation News From Westjet – 10 May 2020 WESTJET UPDATES SCHEDULE FROM JUNE 5 THROUGH JULY 4, 2020 WestJet has updated its schedule from June 5 through to July 4, 2020 to address significantly reduced guest demand for air travel while continuing to keep critical economic lifelines open for essential travel and cargo. At this time, WestJet is also extending its temporary transborder and international route suspensions through June 25, 2020. Guests with travel booked after June 5 through July 4, will be proactively notified of their options. Full schedule details are available on westjet.com. It is through the hard work and dedication of teams across WestJet that we continue to provide safe, on-time air travel throughout Canada. We thank all WestJetters and our airport partners for their support during this time. For information on WestJet’s COVID-19 response including health, safety and cleaning protocols, visit the WestJet COVID-19 site here. Domestic route suspensions from June 5 through July 4, 2020 Market Previous frequency Vancouver – Nanaimo 2x daily Vancouver – Comox 1x daily Vancouver – Regina 4x weekly Vancouver – Saskatoon 1x daily Vancouver – Winnipeg 3x daily Vancouver – Fort St. John 1x daily Vancouver – Cranbrook 1x daily Vancouver – Ottawa 2x daily Vancouver – Montreal 6 to 13x weekly Vancouver – Halifax 6x weekly Kelowna – Victoria 12x weekly Calgary – Prince George 1x daily Calgary – Ottawa 2x daily Calgary – Montreal 2x daily Calgary – London, ON 1 to 2x daily Calgary – Halifax 3x daily Calgary – St. John’s 1x daily Edmonton – Comox 8x weekly Edmonton – Victoria 20x weekly Edmonton – Kelowna 7x daily Edmonton – Grande Prairie 13x weekly Edmonton – Yellowknife 1x daily Edmonton – Saskatoon 3x daily Edmonton – Regina 3x daily Edmonton – Winnipeg 20x weekly Edmonton – Ottawa 4x weekly Edmonton – Montreal 3x weekly Edmonton – Halifax 10x weekly Edmonton – St. John’s 4x weekly Winnipeg – Ottawa 1x daily Winnipeg – Regina 1x daily Winnipeg – Halifax 1x daily Toronto – Victoria 4x weekly Toronto – Regina 10x weekly Toronto – Saskatoon 12x weekly Halifax – Montreal 2x daily The following domestic markets will have a new seasonal start date: Market New start date Calgary – Quebec City 6-Jul-20 Calgary – Charlottetown 5-Jul-20 Winnipeg – Montreal 5-Jul-20 Toronto – Kelowna 5-Jul-20 Toronto – Sydney, NS 5-Jul-20 WESTJET CARGO DELIVERS FLOWERS FOR MOTHER’S DAY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lakelad Posted May 15, 2020 Share Posted May 15, 2020 . Onex posts $1.1-billion loss, writes down WestJet stake Fri May 15, 2020 - The Globe and Mail by Andrew Willis Private equity firm Onex Corp. posted a US$1.1-billion loss in the first quarter as it wrote down the value of WestJet Airlines and other holdings due to the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. Toronto-based Onex booked a US$985-million loss on its investment portfolio and an additional $67-million loss on its wealth management platform, Gluskin Sheff. Onex says the decrease in fair value of its investments ranged from declines of between 1 per cent and 77 per cent. While the company did not break down the value of individual holdings, analysts estimate the value of WestJet has declined by 65 per cent since the buyout firm acquired the airline in December for $3.5-billion. Onex committed $345-million of its own capital to the WestJet acquisition. Prior to the pandemic-inspired market decline in March, Onex raised US$202-million by selling a portion of its stake in European packaging company SIG Combibloc. In mid-April, Onex announced a major acquisition, agreeing to acquire U.K. medical services firm Independent Clinical Services. Analysts estimate the transaction was valued at US$1.4-billion. Onex is currently holding US$1.9-billion in cash, and maintained its dividend of 10 cents per subordinate voting share. In a press release, founder and chief executive Gerry Schwartz said: “The most challenging times bring out the best in people. Both within Onex and across businesses in our private equity portfolio, there were countless examples of employees ensuring where possible we could all work from home seamlessly; where not possible, ensuring employees were safe while serving their customers." . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lakelad Posted May 21, 2020 Share Posted May 21, 2020 . WestJet seeks exemption to section of Canada Labour Code covering group terminations If successful, termination of more than 50 employees won't require 16 weeks' notice or pay in lieu Thu May 21, 2020 - CBC News Aaron Saltzman WestJet is asking for an exemption to the section of the Canada Labour Code covering group terminations. In a letter to federal Labour Minister Filomena Tassi, the airline says it finds itself in "unprecedented circumstances with regards to the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent decline in air travel prompted by containment measures worldwide." WestJet says abiding by group termination provisions in the Labour Code would be "unduly prejudicial to the interests of the company's employees and to the company, and are seriously detrimental to the operations of the company's industrial establishments." The airline also said "measures are already in place to assist redundant employees which have substantially the same or the same effect" as the measures in the applicable section of the code. Division IX of the Canada Labour Code is applicable if a federally regulated company plans to terminate more than 50 employees during a four-week period. Under those circumstances, certain provisions kick in designed to protect the employees and prevent a flood of people entering the labour market all at once. Instead of the two weeks' notice required for individuals, Division IX states employees who lose their job during a group termination are entitled to 16 weeks' notice or pay in lieu of that notice. "Really, that's designed to try to allow people to get things in order," said Philip Graham, a lawyer specializing in employment law at Koskie Minskie law firm in Toronto. "It also allows the employer and representatives of the employees the opportunity to sit down and try to minimize the effects of the layoff: Is it possible to perhaps shift employees around, to furlough employees, to put them on a shared work schedule, so that they don't actually end up having to be terminated and entering the market as job seekers." With group terminations, an employer is also required to co-operate with the Canada Employment Insurance Commission, provide affected employees with a statement of benefits, and establish a joint planning committee. This is the second time in less than a year that WestJet has asked for an exemption from part of the Canada Labour Code. The previous request was not related to the pandemic. 'Very concerning' Last August, WestJet asked for exemptions to rules covering the right of employees to refuse overtime, the requirement they be given 24 hours' notice of a shift change, and the mandatory half-hour break for every five hours of work. "There's no question that this is a very trying time for airlines around the world," said Chris Rauenbusch, president of CUPE 4070, which represents flight attendants and cabin crew members of WestJet, its regional airline Encore and its discount arm, Swoop. "The union has to be mindful of the operating circumstances, but just to ask for a blind exemption to the Canada Labour Code is certainly something that we view as very concerning," said Rauenbusch. "To us it seems every time the code gets in the way, WestJet files exemptions to it. And the point of the code is to protect employees; it's not to be negated and bypassed every time an employer has a perceived need." Rauenbusch says WestJet is trying to bypass the union, which would normally use the 16-week notice to negotiate further for things such as job retraining or new positions within the company. WestJet laid off about half of its 14,000 workforce in March, and announced last month it would layoff a further 3,000 employees, saying its passenger loads had dropped by more than 95 per cent due to travel restrictions imposed because of the coronavirus outbreak. Since then, the airline has rehired about 6,400 employees with the help of the federal government's wage subsidy program. In an email to CBC News, WestJet spokesperson Morgan Bell said the airline has not made any decisions to move ahead with terminations. "An exemption [to the Canada Labour Code] would allow the airline flexibility to act in a timely manner in this rapidly changing and prolonged crisis. This letter is consistent with our respect for government processes and the Labour Code," said Bell. An email to the labour minister's office was not returned prior to publication. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 22, 2020 Share Posted May 22, 2020 the request from WestJet talks of terminations, not layoffs. Bad choice of words or is terminations what they intend to do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lakelad Posted May 22, 2020 Share Posted May 22, 2020 (Excerpt from Division IX - Canada Labour Code) Where employer deemed to terminate employment (4) Except where otherwise prescribed by regulation, an employer shall, for the purposes of this Division, be deemed to have terminated the employment of an employee where the employer lays off that employee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 26, 2020 Share Posted May 26, 2020 WestJet Update: 25 May – Schedule Update 25 May 2020Canadian Aviation News From WestJet WESTJET’S SUMMER SEASONAL BASE OPERATIONS IMPACTED BY COVID-19 As the demand for travel remains significantly impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, WestJet has made the difficult decision to suspend service to three seasonal bases. The summer season usually runs from late April through October, however, the start of seasonal service had been pushed back to July 3, 2020 due to COVID-19. “Our investments in developing seasonal destinations has been a central component of domestic tourism in these markets,” said Arved von zur Muehlen, WestJet Chief Commercial Officer. “In these unprecedented times of low demand and with the ask from governments to restrict unnecessary travel, we have made the difficult decision to suspend service at select bases for the 2020 summer season.” While record-low demand continues to affect the airline, WestJet remains committed to keeping critical lifelines open for essential travel and goods to its 38 year-round domestic airports. “We thank all of our guests, WestJetters and airport partners in these destinations for their support and look forward to the time when we will be bringing leisure and business travellers back into these communities again.” Service to all three seasonal destinations is planned to return in 2021. Guests affected by these seasonal suspensions, will be proactively notified of their options. The following summer seasonal bases and routes have been suspended: Route Planned Frequency Status Calgary-Whitehorse 4x weekly Suspended Calgary-Windsor 7x weekly Suspended Halifax-Gander 7x weekly Suspended HONOURABLE JASON KENNEY, PREMIER OF ALBERTA AND MINISTER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TRADE AND TOURISM, TANYA FIR ADDRESS WESTJETTERS On Friday afternoon, WestJet welcomed the Honourable Jason Kenney, Premier of Alberta and Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism, Tanya Fir to WestJet’s Alberta headquarters. We were pleased the Premier and Minister were able to virtually meet with WestJetters to provide an overview of Alberta’s current situation, actions taken by the government to manage COVID-19, what the path forward looks like and the role WestJet will play in leading Alberta’s economic recovery. For highlights from the visit please see the following video available for download here. We ask that media please reach out to Government of Alberta with any further questions on the special visit. BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE Guests can continue to book new flights with confidence as we’ve extended our flexible change/cancel policies for new bookings until June 30, 2020. More on our current policies available here. REPATRIATION FLIGHT SCHEDULE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiburon Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 On 4/4/2020 at 8:02 PM, seeker said: Yeah, good one! The only problem is that when the CV19 issue is finally resolved we will have to address the economy and it will be a huge issue. Personally I'm concerned, for purely selfish reasons, that the government is giving vast amounts of money to everyone but I'm one of the few who actually pays taxes - that does not bode well for me. Well that aged well. Now that the airlines and its employees are on the receiving end of my tax dollars,(again) , I hope your appreciative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 WestJet releases July schedule to get Canadians exploring again NEWS PROVIDED BY WESTJET, an Alberta Partnership Jun 15, 2020, 09:45 ET Airline continues to focus on significant safety and hygiene enhancements to ensure a safe travel journey CALGARY, AB, June 15, 2020 /CNW/ - WestJet today released its updated July schedule, developed to allow Canadians the pleasure of summer travel while economically supporting communities across the country in safely reopening travel and domestic tourism. In addition, the airline has added flights to select U.S. markets. To ensure guests can book with confidence, the airline maintains its stringent Safety Above All hygiene program and continues to provide flexibility in booking, change and cancellation policies. "Today's schedule reflects our commitment to orderly and safe travel while providing steps to allow Canadians to get out, explore, and take part in critical economic activities like staying in hotels, eating out, visiting tourist attractions or simply just travelling to see friends and family," said Arved von zur Muehlen, WestJet Chief Commercial Officer. "Governments and Canadians from coast-to-coast are working together to lessen the impact of this pandemic and we are grateful that these efforts have put us in a position to add more options for travel this July." From July 5 through August 4, 2020, WestJet will offer operations to 45 destinations including 39 in Canada, five in the U.S. and one in Mexico an increase of approximately 102 per cent more flights from June, but down 76 per cent from July 2019. Continued von zur Muehlen, "As we emerge from the pandemic, health vigilance must be balanced with the gradual reopening of our economy. WestJet has done our part and spent millions of dollars to ensure the safety and well-being of our guests and our people. We're ready to get Canadians flying." On March 22, WestJet suspended its international and transborder operations. The airline's schedule now contains flights to key transborder and international destinations including Los Angeles (LAX), Atlanta (ATL) and Las Vegas (LAS). "Jurisdictions around the world are opening, allowing citizens to begin flying once again which is kickstarting their economies for recovery. We've heard from the communities we serve and look forward to having Canadians safely participate and stimulate domestic tourism this summer," stated von zur Muehlen. At this time, the airline is planning on operating the following domestic routes and frequencies from July 5 – August 4. ALBERTA AND NORTHWEST TERRITORIES Calgary-Abbotsford 2x daily Calgary-Comox 6x weekly Calgary-Cranbrook 3x weekly Calgary-Fort St. John 2x daily Calgary-Kamloops 6x weekly Calgary-Kelowna 3x daily Calgary-Nanaimo 6x weekly Calgary-Penticton 4x weekly Calgary-Vancouver 7x daily Calgary-Victoria 2x daily Calgary-Edmonton 6x daily Calgary-Fort McMurray 3x daily Calgary-Grande Prairie 3x daily Calgary-Lethbridge 3x weekly Calgary-Lloydminster 2x weekly Calgary-Medicine Hat 2x weekly Calgary-Yellowknife 3x weekly Calgary-Brandon 3x weekly Calgary-Regina 2x daily Calgary-Saskatoon 2x daily Calgary-Winnipeg 3x daily Calgary-Hamilton 4x weekly Calgary-Kitchener/Waterloo 2x weekly Calgary-Toronto 6x daily Edmonton-Vancouver 3x daily Edmonton-Kelowna 6x weekly Edmonton-Victoria 6x weekly Edmonton-Calgary 6x daily Edmonton-Fort McMurray 4x weekly Edmonton-Grande Prairie 5x weekly Edmonton-Regina 5x weekly Edmonton-Saskatoon 6x weekly Edmonton-Winnipeg 6x weekly Edmonton-Toronto 3x daily Fort McMurray-Calgary 3x daily Fort McMurray-Edmonton 4x weekly Grande Prairie-Calgary 3x daily Grande Prairie-Edmonton 5x weekly Lethbridge-Calgary 3x weekly Lloydminster-Calgary 2x weekly Medicine Hat-Calgary 2x weekly Yellowknife-Calgary 3x weekly BRITISH COLUMBIA AND YUKON Abbotsford-Calgary 2x daily Comox-Calgary 6x weekly Cranbrook-Calgary 3x weekly Fort St John-Calgary 2x daily Kamloops-Calgary 6x weekly Kelowna-Vancouver 1x daily Kelowna-Calgary 3x daily Kelowna-Edmonton 6x weekly Nanaimo-Calgary 6x weekly Penticton-Calgary 4x weekly Prince George-Vancouver 2x daily Terrace-Vancouver 6x weekly Vancouver-Kelowna 1x daily Vancouver-Prince George 2x daily Vancouver-Terrace 6x weekly Vancouver-Victoria 2x daily Vancouver-Calgary 7x daily Vancouver-Edmonton 3x daily Vancouver-Winnipeg 5x weekly Vancouver-Toronto 4x daily Victoria-Vancouver 2x daily Victoria-Calgary 2x daily Victoria-Edmonton 6x weekly ONTARIO Hamilton-Calgary 4x weekly Kitchener/Waterloo-Calgary 2x weekly London, ON-Toronto 4x weekly Ottawa-Calgary 6x weekly Ottawa-Toronto 4x daily Ottawa-Halifax 2x weekly Thunder Bay-Winnipeg 2x weekly Thunder Bay-Toronto 4x weekly Toronto-Vancouver 4x daily Toronto-Calgary 6x daily Toronto-Edmonton 3x daily Toronto-Regina 3x weekly Toronto-Saskatoon 3x weekly Toronto-Winnipeg 3x daily Toronto-London, ON 4x weekly Toronto-Ottawa 4x daily Toronto-Thunder Bay 4x weekly Toronto-Montreal 4x daily Toronto-Quebec City 3x weekly Toronto-Charlottetown 2x weekly Toronto-Deer Lake 4x weekly Toronto-Fredericton 3x weekly Toronto-Halifax 3x daily Toronto-Moncton 3x weekly Toronto-St. John's (NL) 5x weekly SASKATCHEWAN AND MANITOBA Brandon-Calgary 3x weekly Regina-Calgary 2x daily Regina-Edmonton 5x weekly Regina-Toronto 3x weekly Saskatoon-Calgary 2x daily Saskatoon-Edmonton 6x weekly Saskatoon-Winnipeg 2x weekly Saskatoon-Toronto 3x weekly Winnipeg-Vancouver 5x weekly Winnipeg-Calgary 3x daily Winnipeg-Edmonton 6x weekly Winnipeg-Saskatoon 2x weekly Winnipeg-Thunder Bay 2x weekly Winnipeg-Toronto 3x daily QUEBEC Montreal-Calgary 6x weekly Montreal-Toronto 4x daily Quebec City-Toronto 3x weekly ATLANTIC CANADA Charlottetown-Toronto 2x weekly Deer Lake-Toronto 4x weekly Fredericton-Toronto 3x weekly Halifax-Calgary 6x weekly Halifax-Ottawa 2x weekly Halifax-Toronto 3x daily Halifax- St. John's (NL) 6x weekly Halifax-Sydney 2x weekly Moncton-Toronto 3x weekly St. John's (NL)-Toronto 5x weekly St. John's (NL)-Halifax 6x weekly Sydney-Halifax 2x weekly At this time, the airline is planning on operating the following transborder and international routes from July 5 – August 4. Market Planned frequency Vancouver - Los Angeles 4x weekly Vancouver – Las Vegas 2x weekly Calgary - Los Angeles 4x weekly Calgary - Las Vegas 4x weekly Calgary - Atlanta 1x daily Toronto – Las Vegas 2x weekly Toronto - LaGuardia 6x weekly Toronto - Orlando 1x weekly (starts Jul 11) Toronto - Cancun 1x weekly (starts Jul 11) Due to the continued reduction in overall demand, border closures and domestic quarantine requirements that remain in place across the country, the revised schedule also includes temporary domestic route suspensions for July 5-August 4, 2020. Market Previous frequency Vancouver – Nanaimo 2x daily Vancouver – Comox 1x daily Vancouver – Regina 4x weekly Vancouver – Saskatoon 1x daily Vancouver - Fort St. John 1x daily Vancouver – Cranbrook 1x daily Vancouver - Ottawa 2x daily Vancouver - Montreal 13x weekly Vancouver - Halifax 6x weekly Kelowna – Victoria 2x daily Calgary - Prince George 1x daily Calgary – London, ON 2x daily Calgary – Quebec City 4x weekly Calgary - Charlottetown 4x weekly Calgary - St. John's 1x daily Edmonton – Comox 8x weekly Edmonton – Yellowknife 1x daily Edmonton - Ottawa 4x weekly Edmonton - Montreal 3x weekly Edmonton – Halifax 10x weekly Edmonton - St. John's 5x weekly Winnipeg – Regina 1x daily Winnipeg – Ottawa 1x daily Winnipeg – Montreal 1x daily Winnipeg - Halifax 1x daily Toronto - Victoria 4x weekly Toronto – Kelowna 1x daily Toronto – Sydney 6x weekly Halifax - Montreal 2x daily Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dagger Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 I admit this has me scratching my head.... https://www.flyswoop.com/news/swoop-seeks-airport-partners-to-lead-economic-recovery/ Swoop, Canada’s leading Ultra-Low-Cost Carrier (ULCC) and an independently operated subsidiary of the WestJet Group of Companies, today issued a ‘Request for Proposal’ (RFP) seeking strategic airport partners in North and Central America and the Caribbean. The airline is interested in hearing from airports who share an entrepreneurial, consumer-driven mindset to collaborate with the ULCC to stimulate travel and support economic recovery. “We believe the key to recovery lies in strategic collaboration, creativity and innovation to get travellers moving back through airports and into the skies,” said Charles Duncan, President, Swoop. “We are encouraged by early signs of recovering demand for ultra-low fares and are eager to collaborate with airports across the region to re-think how we, as an industry, approach affordable and accessible air travel.” Swoop, which operated its first flights on June 20, 2018, remains confident in the long-term prospects for its ULCC business model and future growth. The airline is seeking innovative proposals from airports that understand providing value to travellers through fair fares, and low fees creates demand as well as the importance of travel and tourism in stimulating economic recovery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trader Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 Swoop attempting to find airports willing to subsidize their flights in some manner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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