Community hub
0 subscribers8 pages, 0 posts
Recent from talks
All channels
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Contribute something
Welcome to the community hub built to collect knowledge and have discussions related to WestJet Link.
Nothing was collected or created yet.
WestJet Link
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
WestJet Link was a brand name under which Pacific Coastal Airlines operated feeder flights for WestJet.
Key Information
History
[edit]Service was originally planned to commence on March 7, 2018, but was delayed until June 21, 2018.[2] The brand was created to primarily connect smaller cities in western Canada with WestJet's domestic hubs at Calgary International Airport and Vancouver International Airport[3] and stimulate air travel in smaller markets.[1] On May 13, 2024, WestJet announced that the brand would cease all operations on October 26, 2024, with all operations transferred back to the WestJet Encore brand.[4]
Destinations
[edit]WestJet Link connected the WestJet mainline service with nine destinations in British Columbia and Alberta. All flights operated into or out of Calgary International Airport or Vancouver International Airport.[3]
Operators and fleet
[edit]
All WestJet Link flights were operated by Pacific Coastal using its fleet of 34-seat Saab 340 aircraft. Only the first two WestJet Link aircraft display the word 'Link' on the livery, the rest used the standard WestJet colours.[11] As of October 2024[update], Pacific Coastal Airlines had 5 Saab 340s painted and operating for WestJet Link.[12][13]
| Airline | IATA service | ICAO code | Callsign | Aircraft | In service | Passengers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Coastal Airlines[14] | 8P | PCO | PASCO | Saab 340 | 5 | 34 |
| Total | 5 |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "WestJet Link officially takes flight, connecting Lethbridge with major hubs". Global News. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
- ^ "WestJet Link launch delayed". newswire.ca. January 31, 2018. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "WestJet introduces WestJet Link". westjet2.mediaroom.com. WestJet. November 24, 2017. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
- ^ "WestJet transitions WestJet Link routes to WestJet Encore for fall 2024" (Press release). WestJet. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
- ^ "WestJet Celebrates 10th Anniversary". cnrp.ccnmatthews.com (Press release). WestJet. February 28, 2006. Archived from the original on January 19, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
- ^ "WestJet Link grounds its Lloydminster Link Service". My Lloydminster Now. December 14, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
- ^ "The Comox Valley Airport welcomes WestJet Link and an enhanced summer schedule". June 29, 2021.
- ^ "Direct Flighhts". WestJet. March 18, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
- ^ "WestJet reconnecting routes across British Columbia".
- ^ "WestJet Link giving Cranbrook another hub option". westjet.mediaroom.com (Press release). WestJet. August 12, 2019. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
- ^ "The Avgeek - First Aircraft for WestJet Link Spotted in Vancouver". theavgeek.net.
- ^ pacificcoastal.com - Our aircraft
- ^ westjet.com - Fleet
- ^ "Pacific Coastal Airlines starts WestJet Link operations". World Airline News. June 20, 2018. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
External links
[edit].svg){kind=small}
WestJet Link
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
History
Establishment and launch
WestJet announced the creation of WestJet Link on November 24, 2017, establishing it as a branded regional service through a capacity purchase agreement with Pacific Coastal Airlines.[1][4] This partnership aimed to operate feeder flights under the WestJet Link brand, leveraging Pacific Coastal's regional expertise to expand WestJet's network.[1] The primary purpose of WestJet Link was to serve smaller markets in British Columbia and Alberta that were not economically viable for WestJet's mainline jet operations, thereby stimulating regional air travel and enhancing connectivity to WestJet's hubs in Calgary and Vancouver.[5] Initial routes were planned as connections from these hubs to communities including Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Cranbrook, Lloydminster, and Prince George, with a focus on year-round non-stop service from Calgary to these destinations.[1][4] Operations commenced on June 21, 2018, slightly delayed from the original March schedule to accommodate operational needs, with the inaugural flights operating from Calgary to Lethbridge and Lloydminster, followed by Calgary to Medicine Hat the next day.[3] From its launch, WestJet Link flights were fully integrated with the WestJet Rewards frequent-flyer program, allowing members to earn and redeem WestJet dollars on all services without blackout periods.[3][1]Operational expansion
Following its launch in 2018, WestJet Link expanded its network in 2019 by adding daily nonstop service between Vancouver and Cranbrook, British Columbia, effective October 27, providing regional passengers with enhanced connectivity to WestJet's Vancouver hub.[6] This addition brought the total to six routes, all operated under codeshare agreements with WestJet's WS flight numbers to facilitate seamless integration into the parent airline's broader network.[6] At its peak operational levels prior to the pandemic, WestJet Link served over 195,000 passengers in its inaugural year of 2018–2019, demonstrating strong demand for its regional feeder services connecting smaller communities to Calgary and Vancouver.[7] These flights, operated exclusively by Pacific Coastal Airlines under a capacity purchase agreement, emphasized efficient, low-cost regional connectivity aligned with WestJet's overall model. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted operations starting in 2020, with widespread flight reductions across WestJet's network leading to temporary suspensions of several WestJet Link routes.[8] In February 2021, service to key destinations including Lloydminster and Medicine Hat, Alberta, was halted effective March 19 due to plummeting demand, with pauses extending until June 24, 2021.[8] Recovery efforts resumed in mid-2021, restoring these routes and gradually rebuilding capacity as travel restrictions eased.[9] In 2022, WestJet Link pursued further growth through route optimizations, including the addition of new service between Vancouver and Penticton, British Columbia, starting in the winter schedule, which expanded the network to 11 destinations and improved intra-provincial connectivity and load factors on British Columbia routes.[10] These adjustments also focused on enhancing on-time performance by prioritizing high-demand regional links to support WestJet's overall domestic recovery.[10]Discontinuation and transition
In May 2024, WestJet announced the discontinuation of its WestJet Link regional service, with operations transitioning to WestJet Encore effective October 27, 2024.[2] This decision marked the end of the six-year capacity purchase agreement with Pacific Coastal Airlines, allowing WestJet to consolidate its regional operations under its wholly owned subsidiary, Encore.[11] The primary reasons for the discontinuation included fleet modernization and cost efficiencies, as WestJet shifted from Pacific Coastal's smaller Saab 340B aircraft (34 seats) to Encore's larger Bombardier Q400 turboprops (78 seats), enabling better regional coverage and operational integration across its network.[12] This strategic realignment occurred under the ownership of Onex Corporation, which acquired WestJet in 2019 and has guided its post-pandemic recovery and restructuring efforts.[13] The transition process began in summer 2024, with routes progressively transferred to WestJet Encore operations by October 27, 2024.[12] Notably, the Lloydminster-Calgary route, operated by WestJet Link, was permanently discontinued earlier on April 15, 2024, due to low demand and operational challenges.[14] All eight remaining routes at the time of announcement continued under Encore branding without interruption, though with adjusted frequencies to match demand—such as reducing Calgary-Lethbridge flights from 21 weekly to seven.[11] The impacts were minimal for passengers and staff, with no job losses reported among Pacific Coastal Airlines' crew, who had operated the Link services in close partnership with WestJet.[15] WestJet maintained a reciprocal interline agreement with Pacific Coastal post-transition to ensure continued connectivity.[11] The WestJet Link brand was fully retired in October 2024, with all services transitioned to WestJet Encore.[16]Operations
Destinations and routes
WestJet Link primarily operated from two hub airports: Calgary International Airport (YYC) in Alberta and Vancouver International Airport (YVR) in British Columbia, which served as key connection points to the broader WestJet mainline network.[11] These hubs facilitated seamless transfers for passengers traveling to and from smaller regional communities in Western Canada.[4] The service connected several regional destinations across Alberta and British Columbia, focusing on underserved communities to enhance regional connectivity. In Alberta, routes linked the hubs to Lethbridge Airport (YQL), Medicine Hat Airport (YXH), and Lloydminster Airport (YLL; discontinued April 15, 2024).[14] In British Columbia, flights served Cranbrook/Canadian Rockies International Airport (YXC; accessible from both hubs), Comox Valley Airport (YQQ), Kamloops Airport (YKA), Nanaimo Airport (YCD), Prince George Airport (YXS), and Castlegar Airport (YCG), primarily from Vancouver or Calgary.[17][1] All WestJet Link routes were short-haul, with flight durations under two hours, and were scheduled daily or seasonally to meet regional demand.[11] At its peak, the network encompassed nine destinations, emphasizing linkages between rural Alberta and British Columbia locales and the major hubs for onward domestic and international travel.[17][1]| Province | City | Airport Code | Hub Connection(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | Calgary | YYC | Hub | |
| Alberta | Lethbridge | YQL | YYC | |
| Alberta | Lloydminster | YLL | YYC | Discontinued April 2024 |
| Alberta | Medicine Hat | YXH | YYC | |
| British Columbia | Castlegar | YCG | YVR | Expansion route |
| British Columbia | Comox | YQQ | YVR | |
| British Columbia | Cranbrook | YXC | YYC, YVR | |
| British Columbia | Kamloops | YKA | YVR | |
| British Columbia | Nanaimo | YCD | YVR | |
| British Columbia | Prince George | YXS | YYC | Initial launch route |
| British Columbia | Vancouver | YVR | Hub |