WestJet is
making plans to fly into smaller more rural cities throughout Canada, though
they have not yet unveiled specific markets it plans to target, WestJet CEO
Gregg Sarestsky has been quoted in the local Canadian press giving examples of
some cities that could benefit from expanded service including Cranbrook, Prince
Rupert, Fort Saint John, and Dawson Creek in British Colombia; Lethbridge,
Alberta; Brandon and Thompson in Manitoba; Saguenay, Quebec and Sudbury, Sarnia
and Timmins in Ontario.
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| Bombardier Q400 NextGen |
The recent
order of 20 Bombardier Q400 NextGen Turboprops will serve the newly proposed routes, as
well as used for regular existing routes when they are off peak traveling times
to accommodate for fewer passengers. WestJet also signed a contract for an
option to order another 25 aircraft within the next 6 years.
WestJet
cites at least 30 cities in the Canadian domestic market that are too small to
support its 737s where it estimates roundtrip fares on stage lengths of one
hour can reach roughly $1200US. That’s where their new fleet of aircrafts will
come in to action, to accommodate these smaller rural routes. For years other
airlines have monopolized the airline industry, as they have had the market to
themselves. Now that is WestJet stepping in, with their low prices, and
proposed straight flights to cut total travel times for their customers.
WestJet plans to step into this market and give their competitors serious
competition.
Do you have family
and friends in smaller rural areas that you would be glad to visit but was unable to because of lack of transportation, or if transportation was available was
it too expensive?
References
http://www.youtube.com
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