REGINA - If you live in Saskatchewan and want to see Atlantic Canada, now is your chance.
WestJet has announced they are launching new weekly non-stop flights running from both Saskatoon and Regina to Halifax in the summer months.
The route will run from late June until early September. The Saskatoon flights will run on Saturdays starting June 28, and the flights from Regina will run on Sundays starting June 29.
For Regina, the flights will depart at 10:15 a.m. and arrive in Halifax at 5:24 p.m. Atlantic time. The return flight to leaves Halifax at 6:30 p.m. Atlantic time and will cross the Eastern and Central Daylight time zones to arrive in Regina at 8:12 p.m., Central Standard time.
The flights are among several new routes announced by WestJet Tuesday, including twice-weekly flights between Winnipeg and St. John’s and four-times-a-week flights between Vancouver and Halifax.
“These routes bring greater choice to our guests across the country and make it easier for Canadians to access our expanding transatlantic network from Halifax and St. John’s,” said John Weatherill, WestJet Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer, in a statement.
“As demand for summer travel continues to evolve, we are focused on flying people where they want to go, whether it’s reuniting with loved ones in the prairies, exploring new sights in the Maritimes or seamlessly connecting to Europe.”
The direct flight to Halifax will provide further options for Saskatchewan travellers to connect to other Atlantic destinations in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador. It also provides an additional opportunity to connect to flights to Europe from Halifax.
"WestJet is a valued partner and currently provides Saskatoon with the highest number of flight options among our air service partners. Their ongoing commitment to enhancing air access supports regional economic growth and strengthens our community's connectivity. We are thrilled to welcome the addition of Halifax to our route network—further connecting our city and province to Canada and the world," said Stephen Maybury, Saskatoon Airport Authority President and Chief Executive Officer.
"WestJet has consistently demonstrated their commitment to serving our region. Introducing this new non-stop summer flight from Regina to Halifax is a significant milestone, and will enhance travel options for the people of Â鶹ÊÓƵern Saskatchewan. In addition to fulfilling a demand for more direct connections to Canada's East Coast, Halifax is a strong connecting city to Europe through WestJet’s expanding network.” said James Bogusz, President and CEO of the Regina Airport Authority, in a statement.
“Halifax is seeing record transatlantic capacity this year, and it's exciting to see WestJet expanding their domestic offerings this summer," said Marie Manning, Vice President of Business Development and Chief Commercial Officer at Halifax International Airport Authority, in a news release. "We're especially pleased to welcome non-stop services to Regina and Saskatoon for the first time and the return of the popular Halifax - Vancouver service, further strengthening Halifax Stanfield's connections to the number of destinations last seen in 2019."
The new Halifax route is particular good news for the Regina airport, which is also preparing to launch United Airlines direct flights to Denver next month. The new Halifax route from WestJet will take advantage of renewed interest of Canadians to see their own country.
“This year, more Canadians are interested in exploring their own country, and increased domestic connectivity to new markets opens doors to exciting travel destinations,” said Jonathan Potts, CEO of Tourism Saskatchewan, in a statement. “This new route provides an excellent opportunity for more visitors to travel to Saskatchewan and discover its natural beauty, vibrant communities, and unique attractions.”
“Additional flight capacity is fantastic for the tourism industry in Regina,” said Jennifer Johnson, Deputy City Manager for Communications, Service Regina and Tourism, in a news release. “This flight will help both leisure tourists and people coming to Regina for business and events get here easier, and then have more time to explore while they’re here.”
“The timing of this flight couldn’t be better. EDR has identified Halifax as a high-potential city for our talent attraction work, and we are currently in that market with Regina advertising,” says Economic Development Regina CEO Chris Lane.
“WestJet’s new direct flight from Regina to Halifax is a welcome addition that makes our city more accessible than ever. This connection brings more visitors, more opportunities, and more overnight stays that support our hotels and boost the entire Regina economy,” said Sandra Jackle, President and CEO of Regina Hotel Association, in a statement.
