WestJet Announces Summer 2024 Schedule

WestJet has announced the highlights of its Summer 2024 schedule, with the full details set to be published over the coming week.

This year, the Calgary-based airline will debut 10 previously announced new routes to destinations near and far, and will return or extend service on 16 others. 

WestJet Announces Summer 2024 Schedule

WestJet has announced highlights of its Summer 2024 schedule, with plans to release it in full over the coming week.

This year, WestJet is highlighting the following new and resumed domestic routes, with the new route listed in bold:

• Calgary (YYC)–Deer Lake (YDF)
• Toronto (YYZ)–Charlottetown (YYG)
• Toronto (YYZ)–Deer Lake (YDF)
• Toronto (YYZ)–Moncton (YQM)
• Toronto (YYZ)–Victoria (YYJ)

Last winter, WestJet announced the expansion of service to many airports in the United States, including new destinations from Edmonton (YEG) and Vancouver (YVR).

The following transborder routes are of note for WestJet in Summer 2024, with new routes listed in bold:

• Calgary (YYC)–Honolulu (HNL) (extended for the summer)
• Calgary (YYC)–Maui (OGG) (extended for the summer)
• Edmonton (YEG)–Atlanta (ATL)
• Edmonton (YEG)–Nashville (BNA)
• Edmonton (YEG)–Orlando (MCO) (extended for the summer)
• Edmonton (YEG)–Phoenix (PHX) (extended for the summer)
• Edmonton (YEG)–San Francisco (SFO)
• Regina (YQR)–Minneapolis (MSP)
• Vancouver (YVR)–Detroit (DTW)
• Vancouver (YVR)–Phoenix (PHX)

WestJet reports a seat capacity growth of 26% on transborder routes, as well as a 70% growth in access to Delta hubs.

As for international routes, WestJet previously announced the launch of service to Seoul (ICN) and Reykjavik (KEF) from Calgary, as well as the resumption or launch of direct flights to Europe from Halifax (YHZ), St. John’s (YYT), and Toronto Pearson (YYZ). 

The following list highlights sun and international routes of interest for Summer 2024, with new routes in bold:

• Calgary (YYC)–Punta Cana (PUJ) (extended for the summer)
• Calgary (YYC)–Varadero (VRA) (extended for the summer)
• Calgary (YYC)–Reykjavik (KEF)
• Calgary (YYC)–Seoul (ICN)
• Halifax (YHZ)–Dublin (DUB)
• Halifax (YHZ)–Edinburgh (EDI)
• Halifax (YHZ)–London Gatwick (LGW)
• Halifax (YHZ)–Orlando (MCO)
• St. John’s (YYT)–London Gatwick (LGW)
• St. John’s (YYT)–Orlando (MCO)
• Toronto (YYZ)–Dublin (DUB)
• Toronto (YYZ)–Edinburgh (EDI)
• Toronto (YYZ)–Providenciales (PLS)
• Toronto (YYZ)–Puerto Plata (POP)

Compared to 2023, WestJet reports a 57% growth on its Latin America and Caribbean routes, as well as a 56% increase in capacity from Toronto to sun destinations.

WestJet Focuses on Leisure Travel in 2024

While most of these routes were previously announced at various points in 2023, what’s very clear from WestJet’s Summer 2024 schedule is its focus on leisure travel.

John Weatherill, WestJet Group’s Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer, summarizes the airline’s approach as follows:

This summer will see the return of seasonal, leisure-focused flying, to connect Eastern and Western Canada, and substantial growth in service to sun destinations, further cementing our position as Canada’s leading leisure airline.

On some routes out of Toronto Pearson (YYZ), WestJet will compete with many other airlines, including Air Canada, Porter Airlines, Flair Airlines, and Lynx Air, for leisure traffic.

It’s interesting to see WestJet bolster its presence outside of Calgary, as it has significantly increased its network departing from Edmonton (YEG) in recent months, and also is establishing a foothold in Atlantic Canada.

Furthermore, the airline has completed its integration of former ultra-low-cost carrier Swoop, and will do the same with Sunwing by October 2024 if all goes according to schedule.

Keep in mind that Sunwing operates flights to leisure destinations from airports across the country; however, its strongest presence is in Toronto Pearson (YYZ) and Montreal (YUL).

When the integration is complete, WestJet’s presence will be much stronger in Montreal than it currently is, as it currently only offers domestic flights to Calgary (YYC), Edmonton (YEG), and Vancouver (YVR) from Montreal (YUL).

At that point, it will vie more strongly for leisure traffic against Air Canada and Air Transat, amongst others, who also offer flights to many leisure destinations from these hub airports in large population centres.

Conclusion

WestJet has announced the highlights of its Summer 2024 schedule, with the full details to be released in the coming days.

The Calgary-based airline will see 10 new routes launched in 2024, as well as the resumption or extension of 16 routes. 

WestJet is focusing its efforts on leisure markets in 2024, which will likely continue as the airline works to integrate Sunwing into its mainline operations by the end of the year.