WestJet cutting back on flights from Alberta

Due to the downturn in Alberta’s economy, WestJet has made a decision to suspend several flights to and from energy markets.

“This was certainly a tough decision for us”, said Richard Bartram, vice-president of communications at WestJet. WestJet is cutting the number of scheduled flights from Calgary and Edmonton.

On Monday, Westjet officials confirmed daily service between Edmonton and Nanaimo, and Edmonton and Kamloops was being cancelled, while reducing service between the city and Abbotsford, Grande Prairie and Calgary. Starting later in 2016, the airline is expected to fly from Edmonton to London.

Despite the low loonie, the airline is adding three new weekly flights between Vancouver and San Diego, while increasing service to Los Angeles and Hawaii.

WS3293 from Calgary to Edmonton and WS3207 from Edmonton to Calgary have been removed from the schedule. “We will continue to evaluate the situation and make changes as necessary”.

“We look forward to a time when the price of oil starts to come back up, and we see more workers back in those markets so that we can service those markets in the future”, Bartram said.

The change is effective March 5.