WestJet Touts More Sun Capacity Than Any Other Canadian Airline

More seats to the sun. More domestic routes. And more service from Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

The WestJet Group has announced heavy capacity for this 2024/2025 winter season. Officials say it positions the airline as “Canada's number one choice for leisure travel, with expanded service to popular sun, transborder and transoceanic destinations.”

Together as the WestJet Group, WestJet and Sunwing Airlines will provide more seats to the sun than any other Canadian airline, across 320 nonstop routes to 63 popular destinations in the U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America this winter, the airline said.

"Our winter schedule is building on our ambitions to ensure Canadians benefit from a comprehensive network of affordable domestic air service, while providing seamless access to fulfill cold-weather escapes,” said John Weatherill, WestJet Group EVP and CCO.

With more than 16 million seats available to 37 domestic, 21 transborder, 42 sun and three intercontinental destinations this winter, The WestJet Group will increase its overall capacity by 9% versus 2023, with growth across all regions, including:

48% increase in intercontinental capacity
15% increase in domestic capacity
5% increase in transborder capacity
3% increase in Latin Caribbean capacity

Domestic growth highlights:

With more than 323 domestic daily departures, WestJet will provide service on 71 unique domestic routes while continuing to enhance east-to-west connectivity across the country, including:

Significant domestic capacity growth vs. winter 2023 in Winnipeg (44%), Regina (24%), Saskatoon (27%), Edmonton (32%), Kelowna (14%), Vancouver (16%), Calgary (6%)
A 53% seat share of all domestic air service operating in the West within and between Alberta and British Columbia
More unique routes between Eastern Canada and Western Canada than any other airline

Leisure growth highlights:

On the heels of announcing winter service to Tulum, Mexico and the Caribbean Island of Grenada, WestJet continues to elevate its leisure offering through the following sun and transborder investments this winter, including:

Leading with a 63% share of all flights connecting Canada to Hawaii
Offering the most flights to Arizona and Las Vegas, with a 57% and 44% share of seats, respectively
Notable capacity increases to Latin Caribbean destinations from Kelowna (68%), Winnipeg (37%), Regina (27%), Victoria (27%), Calgary (10%), and Edmonton (9%)

Beyond providing Canadians with unparalleled access to sun destinations, WestJet will enhance service to its most popular intercontinental destinations throughout the winter with non-stop, year-round service to Tokyo and daily connectivity to Paris and London via its global hub in Calgary.

Saskatchewan Flight Boost

As the WestJet Group continues to grow its presence across Western Canada, the airline is expanding its capacity from Saskatchewan this winter with more than 27% overall growth, cementing its position as the province's No. 1 carrier.

"We are proud to expand Saskatchewan's domestic service and forge new critical connections across the country, as we further solidify our position as the province's leading air carrier," said Weatherill.

"As the only airline offering non-stop connectivity from Saskatchewan to transborder and international destinations this winter, while providing Regina and Saskatoon with the most domestic connectivity, our investments will further stimulate business and leisure travel opportunities as we continue to execute on our growth strategy.”

Improvements include:

- Increasing Vancouver service to daily from both Regina and Saskatoon, providing the option for guests to do same-day returns, a critical enhancement for business travellers

- Increasing Toronto service to daily from both Regina and Saskatoon, providing the option for business travellers to do same-day returns, with earlier departure times unlocking seamless connections in Toronto to eight warm-weather destinations

- Twice daily service every weekday from both Regina and Saskatoon to Winnipeg, enabling same-day returns for guest

- Increased frequency between Regina/Saskatoon and Calgary and Edmonton

Winnipeg Win

"Winnipeg will see the largest increase in WestJet capacity across any airport in Western Canada next winter, highlighting our commitment to meeting the community's growing demand for business and leisure travel," said Weatherill. "This schedule was thoughtfully designed not only to provide Winnipeggers with unmatched access to transborder and sun destinations, but also to optimize schedules to stimulate critical business ties between the region and major Canadian and U.S. cities."

Increasing capacity to Delta hubs by 42%

Across the winter season, WestJet guests will benefit from seamless access to codeshare partner Delta Air Lines' hubs, including Atlanta and Minneapolis. These hubs provide single-connect access to more than 100 U.S. destinations via the U.S. carrier's robust network. Flights are available from Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, and Vancouver.