Loss of WestJet Brandon-Toronto Route at Brandon Municipal Airport

September 18, 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Brandon, MB – The City of Brandon has recently been informed by WestJet that the airline has removed direct return service from Brandon to Toronto from its Winter 2016/2017 schedule.

The company offered a direct Brandon-Toronto flight four days a week on a two-month trial over the summer months and subsequently announced in late-July that it planned to offer the service as a year-round route, beginning in late-October. However, WestJet has indicated that bookings for the service have been very sluggish ahead of the route’s scheduled return and, as such, it has made the decision to cancel the route altogether prior to its planned start. Individuals who have booked flights on the Brandon-Toronto route will be contacted by WestJet directly to make alternate arrangements, either by means of rerouting or refunding.

WestJet has indicated that it remains committed to the valuable partnership it shares with the City of Brandon. The company continues to operate a midday Brandon-Calgary flight seven days a week, and will return an early morning departure/late night return option for the Brandon-Calgary route three times a week, beginning October 23rd.

While disappointed by the loss of the eastern route, the City of Brandon is pleased that WestJet remains committed to the Western Manitoba region and continues to operate a strong Calgary route out of Brandon, whereby connections can still be made to the rest of the WestJet network. With the much-needed renovation/expansion of the Brandon Municipal Airport set for completion in early 2017, City officials remain open and optimistic for future flight opportunities and will focus efforts on growing the region’s population and prosperity.

For more information on hours of operation at the Brandon Municipal Airport, visit http://airport.brandon.ca/.