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Canadian Skies was invited on the inaugural flight, which also saw 40 Toronto-based youth and volunteers from the national mentoring agency, Big Brothers Big Sisters, taken on a day-long tour of New York by the airline.
Robert Palmer, WestJet manager of public relations, told Skies that the new route was an important strategic milestone for the company. It is the largest business pocket in North America trans-border, and a real complement to our service on the eastern triangle from a business traveller perspective, he said.
Although the service is beginning with seven flights a day, it will increase to eight on July 12 after WestJet takes possession of a new 737 – its 99th aircraft.
Flight slots at LaGuardia are restricted by the U.S. government, with the result that new entrants to the airport are relatively rare. WestJet won the rights to the eight slots at an auction triggered by a swap of slots by Delta Air Lines and US Airways.
The service has got a lot of frequency…there no question about it, said Palmer. But at the same time, the response has been very strong to our business product in general. Clearly people are warming to the idea that WestJet truly is a viable alternative as a business airline.
The service actually marked a return to the Pearson-LaGuardia route for WestJet – with the previous incarnation lasting less than a year before its cancellation in 2005.
We had a couple of flights a day but they weren’t the best times for business travellers, said Palmer. He said the new flights have been strategically scheduled to better suit the business traveller; heavier in the morning, lighter during the middle of the day, and heavier again in the evening for those returning home. Judging from the strength of our bookings so far – the forward bookings…they’re looking very good, said Palmer.
The launching of the new service is another step in what looks like being a memorable year for WestJet, following record first quarter profits and with the airline set to receive its 100th aircraft in December. The company should also be announcing the schedule for the first group of communities to be serviced by its much-anticipated new regional airline around the turn of the year.
We’ve been overwhelmed by the response, said Palmer. Over 30 Canadian communities have come forward and said, We want WestJet service.’ Some of them are the same ones that always hoped that they would get it, but obviously now with a regional airline they’re looking at improved prospects.
