WestJet launches new routes in Quebec

WestJet announced its plans for major expansion in Quebec at an event held yesterday morning at the InterContinental hotel in Montreal.

With new routes such as the first WestJet service in the province between Montreal and Quebec, a new Montreal-Halifax service and a Montreal-Boston route, the company is making a direct challenge to Air Canada’s strength in the region.

In total, 105 flights each week will be added by the company in Quebec this year, marking a 74 per cent increase in WestJet’s service in the province.

Bob Cummings, executive vice-president, sales, marketing and guest experience for WestJet, said that the new routes reinforced the company’s chief priorities. “Our mission, for the past 20 years, has been to offer low prices across Canada,” he said. “Today, we are investing in Quebec to offer more choices, and increase competition in the Quebec market because, for too long, Quebeckers have been served by a single carrier.”

Bob Cummings, executive vice-president, sales, marketing and guest experience, WestJet

Cummings highlighted the benefits that WestJet’s new routes in Quebec would bring. “When we launch a new route, we lower prices by up to 50 per cent, and we also increase traffic by up to 70 per cent,” he said, emphasizing that the new routes would bring ‘healthy competition’ to the Quebec region.

From June 15, WestJet will begin its interprovincial service with four daily flights between Montreal and Quebec. Its service between Montreal and Halifax, meanwhile, will run twice daily beginning on Mar. 15, while from Oct. 15, it will offer a twice-daily service between Montreal and Boston.

In addition to these new flights, the low-cost airline will also increase its non-stop service between Montreal and Vancouver from six to twelve flights per week.

WestJet flights between Montreal and Calgary will increase from 14 to 19 flights a week, while the company’s Quebec-Toronto service will add one additional flight per day, for a total of three daily flights.

By Oct. 2017, WestJet will offer 195 departures a week from Montreal, and 50 weekly departures from Quebec. The new routes out of Montreal and Quebec will be offered by WestJet Encore and its Bombardier Q400s.

Attractive prices

WestJet has announced competitive rates for its flights departing Quebec. The domestic flight between Montreal-Trudeau and Jean-Lesage is priced from $87 including taxes, and $98 in the other direction. Flights between Quebec City and Halifax are offered from $98, while the Montreal-Boston route is priced from $99.

Francois-Philippe Champagne, federal minister of international trade

Good for Quebec, good for Canada

The official delegation that joined WestJet’s representatives at yesterday’s event were full of praise for the company’s new plans in Quebec, including François-Philippe Champagne, Canada's minister of international trade; Martin Coiteux, minister responsible for Montreal and Montreal Councillor Harout Chitilian, who is also vice-president of the executive committee of the City of Montreal. Each welcomed the announcement of the new flights with optimism.

Martin Coiteux, provincial minister responsible for Montreal

“This announcement is good for Canada. The large size of our country means that air travel plays a crucial role. These new WestJet flights will benefit not just Quebec, but also the whole country, as a boost to tourism, Canadian travel, trade and business,” said Champagne.

Coiteux said that the addition of the flights was more good news for Montreal, promoting the city’s international stature and reinforcing the image of a prosperous Quebec.

WestJet’s enhanced involvement in Quebec will create jobs for 20 people in Montreal and 15 others in Quebec, without taking into account the new bilingual on-board staff who will be hired as a result.

Further information is available at www.westjet.com.