City of Brandon Lands Highly-Coveted WestJet Flight to the East


February 22, 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Brandon, MB – The eastern option for Brandon air travel that residents of southwestern Manitoba have been waiting in great anticipation for has finally arrived at the Brandon Municipal Airport, WestJet and City of Brandon officials have confirmed today.

WestJet has announced it will operate a direct, non-stop Toronto to Brandon return flight four times a week, beginning June 28th, 2016. Flights are being offered on a summer schedule until September 5th, 2016, with the potential to extend the schedule based on demand. More information on flight times and fares can be found by visiting www.westjet.com/new-summer-routes or by contacting your travel agent.

“After tireless efforts by the City of Brandon and, indeed, the entire southwestern Manitoba region to lobby for this service, to finally see an eastern flight option offered at the Brandon Municipal Airport is definitely worth celebrating,” commented Brandon Mayor Rick Chrest. “With this flight, countless opportunities will be available to those desiring to either travel direct to Toronto or those who wish to connect to the world via Toronto Pearson International Airport.”

Flights are set to arrive in Brandon late-evening and depart from Brandon early-morning on the days of service. The new service opens up 13 new WestJet destinations and 20 new codeshare destinations via Toronto Pearson International Airport to Eastern Canada, the United States, Caribbean, Mexico and Europe.

“We are pleased to provide our loyal WestJet guests in Brandon non-stop service to Toronto; offering greater choices for connectivity and convenience this summer season,” said John Weatherill, Director, Network and Schedule Planning with WestJet. “The people of Brandon have always supported us. We look forward to a great response to this limited-addition service this summer as we get Brandon travellers to Toronto and beyond.”

Modifications have been made to the Passenger Terminal Redevelopment Project currently underway at the Brandon Municipal Airport to ensure its departures lounge and parking lot will accommodate passenger loads for multiple aircrafts. The City of Brandon is working with its funding partners at the provincial and federal level to ensure funding is provided for these additional improvements. Completion of the Brandon Municipal Airport Terminal Redevelopment Project is anticipated at the end of 2016.

“The City of Brandon is being pro-active by integrating capacity for additional flights into our ongoing airport expansion, but we also now need a solid commitment from our public to use this summer’s new flight,” added City Manager Scott Hildebrand. “Use of WestJet’s Brandon-Calgary route has proven to be extremely strong, but we need all residents, whether for business or for leisure travel, to show WestJet that we can sustain an eastern route and possibly even additional routes into the future.”

More information about the Brandon Municipal Airport can be found at http://airport.brandon.ca/