WestJet makes changes to routes & fleet

WestJet is making some changes to its fleet and route frequencies this summer, in preparation for the coming years.

The carrier increased the frequency of several of its existing international routes, with flights between Toronto and Puerto Vallarta increasing from weekly to three times weekly and service between Toronto and Puerto Plata doubling from twice-weekly service to four scheduled flights per week. The carrier has also announced year-round service between Calgary and Yellowknife, as well as an increase to twice-weekly flights on its service between Calgary and Loreto, Mexico.

Routes set to begin this summer include Halifax-Deer Lake, Halifax-Gander, Halifax-Sydney and Ottawa-Moncton. 

WestJet Encore also introduced new routes earlier this year, including Edmonton-Kamloops, Toronto-Québec City, Toronto-Fredericton and Halifax-Sydney, and has recently signed an order for five Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft, the second placed after an initial order for one Q400 aircraft was signed in March 2015. These transactions are conversions of options previously booked by WestJet. The five firm orders are for delivery in 2016 and 2017. The carrier is aiming to increase its Encore fleet to 36 aircraft by 2017.