Departure of inaugural flight unlocks a world
of opportunity for inbound tourism and investment attraction to
Alberta's capital city
EDMONTON, AB, April 29,
2024 /CNW/ - WestJet today celebrated the takeoff of
connectivity between Atlanta and
Edmonton, following the departure
of flight WS1902 at 00:45 MDT. The
launch of the airline's exclusive service marked a critical
milestone in growing Edmonton's
direct transborder travel options to one of the world's largest
global hubs.
"Our new route to Atlanta, will
bolster incredible connectivity for Edmonton, stimulating critical new
opportunities for the city's vibrant business sector and visitor
economy to grow and thrive," said John
Weatherill, WestJet Executive Vice-President and Chief
Commercial Officer. "With year-round service, we are opening up
Edmonton to the world and the
world to Edmonton with convenient
access to a mega-global hub, which hosts more than 1,000 flights
per day to more than 200 international and domestic
destinations."
In celebration of the airline's transborder expansion, WestJet,
in partnership with Edmonton
International Airport (YEG), was joined by valued partners at a
special event held earlier today. Additionally, the City of Edmonton, and partners from the region
are in Atlanta on a trade and
tourism mission to promote this pivotal connection and its
importance in fostering business development and propelling the
visitor economy.
Route
|
Frequency
|
Start
Date
|
Departure
|
Arrival
|
Edmonton-Atlanta
|
Daily
|
April 29
|
12:45 a.m.
|
7:06 a.m.
|
Atlanta-Edmonton
|
Daily
|
April 29
|
9:05 a.m.
|
11:50 a.m.
|
More seamless options for trade
and tourism with access to Atlanta, Delta's largest hub
The United States represents
Alberta's most important bilateral
trade partner and the largest inbound tourism market for the
province. Through WestJet's longstanding partnership with Delta Air
Lines, guests connecting through Atlanta will gain access to a vast network of
U.S. destinations on a single purchased ticket with check-in for
all flights at the first departure, baggage tagged to their final
destination and lounge access for select guests. Additionally,
frequent flyers of both airlines will continue to enjoy extensive
reciprocal benefits any time they fly with either carrier,
including earning and redeeming in their preferred program.
Building on the momentum of
WestJet's record level of investments
Last week, WestJet's CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech shared the
airline's continued commitment to Edmonton at his first annual address to the
Edmonton business community. The
launch of today's inaugural further demonstrated the importance of
a strong partnership rooted in collaboration between WestJet,
Edmonton International Airport,
and the region's stakeholders.
More information can be found on WestJet.com.
Additional Quotes
"WestJet's new non-stop service to Atlanta from Edmonton supports the growth of new business
and tourism opportunities between our regions," said Myron Keehn, President & CEO, Edmonton International Airport (YEG). "WestJet
continues to be a key partner in achieving our vision of bringing
more flights to more places from YEG. Travellers can now discover
why Atlanta is one of National
Geographic's top destinations in the world in one of the most
business-friendly states in the U.S. We are pleased that this
new route gives passengers the opportunity to explore even further
the over 200 connecting destinations globally through Atlanta."
"Canada is one of Atlanta's largest international markets for
inbound travel, and WestJet's new flight creates an opportunity for
incremental traffic to Atlanta,"
said William Pate, president and
CEO, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau. "We look forward to
welcoming more Canadian visitors and showcasing everything our city
has to offer."
About WestJet
In 28 years of serving Canadians, WestJet has cut airfares in
half and increased the flying population in Canada to more than 50 per cent. WestJet
launched in 1996 with three aircraft, 250 employees and five
destinations, growing over the years to more than 180 aircraft,
14,000 employees and more than 100 destinations in 26
countries.
For more information about everything WestJet, please visit
westjet.com.
Connect with WestJet on Facebook at facebook.com/westjet
Follow WestJet on Twitter at twitter.com/westjet and
twitter.com/WestJetNews
Follow WestJet on Instagram instagram.com/westjet/
Subscribe to WestJet on YouTube at youtube.com/westjet
Read the WestJet Newsroom at westjet.com/en-ca/news
SOURCE WESTJET, an Alberta Partnership