Canadian carrier WestJet Airlines is to launch flights to Chicago, a market that up until now it has only served through partner carriers. The company will offer, subject to Government approval, its own daily flights to the US city from Calgary and Vancouver from May 14, 2012, but will continue to market the Canadian operations of American Airlines from Chicago to Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto.
"We're pleased to introduce service to and from Chicago," said John MacLeod, Vice-President, Network Management and Alliances, WestJet Airlines. "The addition of Chicago shows how our continued growth and codeshare agreements are working together to provide guests with non-stop service from the East and West. We believe this balance appeals to both business and leisure travellers looking to experience what Chicago has to offer, as well as for northbound travellers looking to visit Banff and the Rocky Mountains via Calgary or board cruise ships from Vancouver. We look forward to welcoming new and returning guests on board these exciting new services."
In the past year an estimated 817,000 O&D passengers travelled on scheduled services in and out of Canada from or to Chicago’s O’Hare International and Midway airports. Through its partnership with American Airlines, WestJet has just a 0.4 per cent share of this traffic, a figure that will grow significantly when its own flights begin. Air Canada dominates this particular market with a 38.5 per cent traffic share, followed by United Airlines with 25.6 per cent, American Airlines with 14.7 per cent and Porter Airlines with 11.9 per cent.
Meanwhile, in the domestic Canadian market, WestJet has confirmed that its employees have voted overwhelmingly in favour of the launch of a new regional airline subsidiary which will sit as a wholly owned subsidiary of WestJet and will operate a fleet of 70-seat turboprops. According to the carrier more than nine out of ten staff voted in favour of the formation of the venture which will support further expansion into smaller Canadian communities and the introduction of regular services on many secondary routes.
"The opportunity presented to WestJetters has been very well received and I thank them for their input and consideration in this important matter," said Gregg Saretsky, President and CEO, WestJet Airlines. "Clearly, WestJetters have recognised and embraced that the service we have provided for 16 years is in demand in even more communities across Canada.”
The new venture could be airborne as early as the second half of 2013 and the airline’s Board of Directors are now working on requests for proposals to Bombardier and ATR to potentially acquire up to 40 Dash 8-Q400 NextGen or ATR 72-600 turboprops. WestJet is likely to base these aircraft at Calgary and Toronto from where it will serve markets that are not economical with its larger Boring 737 jets.
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