WestJet’s regional air service, WestJet Link celebrated its inaugural flight between Cranbrook and Vancouver on Sunday following the airline’s recent service expansion.
WestJet Link was introduced in June 2018 offering flights from Cranbrook, Lethbridge, Lloydminster, Medicine Hat and Prince George to the airline’s largest hub in Calgary. Since then, WestJet Link has expanded to connect the regional air service to WestJet’s western hub in Vancouver, taking flight on Sunday, October 27, 2019.
“Guests now have better access and more convenient options for travel to and from the interior of British Columbia,” said Brian Znotins, WestJet Vice-President of Network Planning and Alliances. “Whether travelling for business or leisure, this new route gives guests the option to connect through our hub in Vancouver to destinations across our global network.”
According to WestJet, more than 7,000 flights have taken off with WestJet Link since it launched, with more than 200,000 guests utilizing the regional service from its various destinations.
“As Canada’s second busiest airport, YVR proudly links passengers to communities in British Columbia, North America and around the world,” said Anne Murray, Vice President of Airline Business Development and Public Affairs with the Vancouver Airport Authority. “WestJet Link’s route to Cranbrook will further strengthen their Vancouver hub and drive economic benefits for our region, by connecting customers to a great B.C. destination.”
WestJet Link is operated through a capacity purchase agreement with Pacific Coastal Airlines. Using Pacific Coastal’s 34-seat Saab 340B aircraft which have been branded with WestJet’s colours and logos, the airline has the preferred airplane size to serve the various routes.
“Entering WestJet’s second year of service at YXC, this expansion into its Vancouver hub comes at a perfect time as our region prepares for our busiest time of year with inbound winter adventurers and outbound sun-seekers,” said Tristen Chernove, CEO of Elevate Airports Inc. and Manager of Canadian Rockies International Airport. “We are proud to see air travel options continue to grow at YXC and we are grateful that WestJet believes so strongly in our market.”
With the inclusion of WestJet Link, WestJet said they will operate 75 daily departures from Vancouver International Airport to 29 destinations this winter season.
The WestJet Link service operates daily between Canadian Rockies International Airport (YXC) in Cranbrook and Vancouver International Airport (YVR), taking off from Cranbrook at 11:45 am and arriving in Vancouver at 12:25 pm, before departing from Vancouver at 1:35 pm and arriving back in Cranbrook at 4:05 pm.