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WestJet announced its updated schedule for August today featuring more than 200 daily flights to 48 destinations across Canada, the United States, Mexico, Caribbean and Europe.
The schedule features service to 39 domestic airports and said the airline is committed to ensuring air service and regional connectivity is available to Canadians from coast-to-coast.
The updated schedule goes along with WestJet's commitment to help people travel safely and responsibly through the airline's ‘Safety Above All' hygiene program. The airline continues to provide flexibility in booking, change and cancellation policies for guests.
“With the many safeguards and procedures in place, we are certain Canadians can safely resume travel to destinations across our network,” said Arved von zur Muehlen, WestJet Chief Commercial Officer.
“We continue to adapt our schedule to meet the needs of our guests and through our continued investments economies can begin to recover with the support of domestic tourism driven by air travel,” Travel Pulse reported.
Between July 15 through to September 4, 2020, WestJet will increase domestic frequencies and offer operations to 48 destinations including 39 in Canada, five in the U.S., two in Europe, one in the Caribbean, one in Mexico.
The airline is also reintroducing its non-stop Dreamliner service from Calgary to London (Gatwick) and Paris effective August 20, 2020 and will continue to serve five key transborder destinations including Atlanta, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York (LaGuardia) and Orlando.
The airline is also offering service to Cancun and will resume operations once-weekly flights to Montego Bay Jamaica.
The August schedule reflects approximately a 10% increase in flying from July, but a decrease of 75 per cent less flying from August last year.
There are also frequency reductions and temporary domestic route suspensions between airports across Canada due to border closures and provincial travel restrictions.
“The patchwork of domestic travel restrictions and quarantine periods that are currently in place within our own borders are severely limiting Canada's economic recovery and putting hundreds of thousands of jobs in our critical industry at risk,” said von zur Muehlen. “We must standardize intra-provincial travel advice to ensure Canadians can move safely and freely across our country.”
WestJet's August schedule announcement comes after a controversial decision two weeks ago to stop social distancing on flights.
WestJet online booking system returned to normal at the end of June.
“Moving forward, our cabin crew are able to assist should there be space to accommodate and we encourage guests to discuss seating arrangements with them once onboard,” said WestJet spokeswoman Morgan Bell.
WestJet wasn't the only carrier to end the social distancing on flights. Many major airlines have started fully booking planes including Air Canada, American, United and Spirit.
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