WestJet Airlines (TSX:WJA) is suspending flights to more Canadian cities.
Canada’s second largest air carrier is suspending service to four additional Canadian cities as demand continues to slump due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.
Starting March 19, WestJet will suspend all flights to St. John's, Newfoundland; London, Ontario; Lloydminster, Alberta; and Medicine Hat, Alberta. The suspensions will last until June 24 and are the latest in a series of service reductions to regional air routes.
Flights between St. John's and Halifax, Nova Scotia will stop as of March 21 and flights between London and Toronto, Ontario will be suspended on March 22, WestJet said. Flights from Calgary to Lloydminster, Alberta will end on March 19, and flights from Calgary to Medicine Hat, Alberta will be suspended on March 21.
Canadian airlines have laid off thousands of workers this year and cut more routes as the federal government implements increasingly strict travel measures. Air Canada's former President Calin Rovinescu said last week that talks between airlines and the government about sector-specific aid had accelerated and that he expects the two parties to reach a deal soon.
Meanwhile, low-cost carrier Flair Airlines recently announced plans to expand its domestic service to eight cities in Canada, which will bring its number of domestic routes to 18 by this summer. Flair, which also added 13 new Boeing 737 Max airplanes to its fleet, said it is preparing for what it believes will be a restart of tourism and travel in spring and summer.
