WestJet Airlines Ltd. plans to launch a vacation division next month, hoping to entice travellers to tailor their own holiday packages over the Internet.
WestJet Vacations Inc. will offer consumers the chance to book on-line car rentals, hotel rooms and destination attractions such as Disney World, said Clive Beddoe, the airline's chief executive officer.
airbus320
Mar 1, 06, 12:57 pm
"Mr. Beddoe also welcomed Frontier Airlines Inc., the Denver-based low-cost carrier, to the Canadian skies. Frontier is expected to confirm as early as tomorrow that it will soon start Denver-Calgary service, pitting it against Elk Grove, Ill.-based UAL Inc.'s United Airlines Inc. and UAL's regional partner, SkyWest Inc. Frontier could become a WestJet partner once the Calgary airline boots up its new reservations system next year to allow for strategic alliances. United Airlines and Air Canada are members of the Star Alliance."
parnel
Mar 1, 06, 1:15 pm
"Mr. Beddoe also welcomed Frontier Airlines Inc., the Denver-based low-cost carrier, to the Canadian skies. Frontier is expected to confirm as early as tomorrow that it will soon start Denver-Calgary service, pitting it against Elk Grove, Ill.-based UAL Inc.'s United Airlines Inc. and UAL's regional partner, SkyWest Inc. Frontier could become a WestJet partner once the Calgary airline boots up its new reservations system next year to allow for strategic alliances. United Airlines and Air Canada are members of the Star Alliance."
Thy need to do thngs lke that in order to survive long term
Coffeebean
Mar 1, 06, 1:31 pm
Thy need to do thngs lke that in order to survive long term
If WJ thought there was a local market for DEN-YYC, they'd do it.
I think FRNT's move into YYC is more to challenge Alaska's sched service into Mexico via LAX or SEA.
The tour operators do very well with the n/s YYC - Mexico stuff in the winter, with WJ operating most of the capacity.
I don't think FRNT's 1 stop / change of plane service from YYC to LAS/PHX/LAX will have much impact on current non-stop offerings for any incumbent airlines operating out of YYC.
The long term prognosis for FRNT isn't very good with LUV in DEN these days.
I doubt Frontier will last a year in YYC.
tcook052
Mar 1, 06, 2:46 pm
The tour operators do very well with the n/s YYC - Mexico stuff in the winter, with WJ operating most of the capacity.
Since when does WS operate most of the charter capacity? IIRC Transat and Skyservice also significant players in charter business...
Coffeebean
Mar 1, 06, 3:22 pm
Since when does WS operate most of the charter capacity? IIRC Transat and Skyservice also significant players in charter business...
From YYC. ;)
robsawatsky
Mar 1, 06, 3:24 pm
Since when does WS operate most of the charter capacity? IIRC Transat and Skyservice also significant players in charter business...
WS is a significant charter carrier out of the west, but I think "most" might be a stretch as they only operate some routes on behalf of Transat. Then there are flights operated by Transat, Skyservice, Harmony (not to Mexico though), AC Vacations.
tcook052
Mar 1, 06, 10:27 pm
WS is a significant charter carrier out of the west,
Granted.
but I think "most" might be a stretch as they only operate some routes on behalf of Transat. Then there are flights operated by Transat, Skyservice, Harmony (not to Mexico though), AC Vacations.
Go to page #14 for WS's charter route map and page #15 for WS's scheduled and charter route map.
OnMedic
Mar 2, 06, 12:42 pm
I am a AC/AE supporter and my first post is on the WestJet forum! Go Figure!
Traditionally, AE has been very good to the business traveller. Multiple car rental, hotel and other partners including Star Alliance to funnel points/rewards into one program.
However, after reading the Globe and Mail yesterday I must be excited to the prospect of WestJet joining an alliance, or at the least building a proprietary partner program. Options other then AC for the business traveler... YAHOO!
My personal choice, and those here can advise if it is reasonable hope, is to see WS partner with Alaska Airlines and the Milage Plan. The Milage plan look GREAT. It is a proprietary plan that partners with all the One World and Sky Team airlines, which are lackig a Canadian provider (after the acquisition of Canadian by AC) and allow WS members to collect Milage Plan and fly onto any of the One World and Sky Team partners.
Make sense?
I look forward to your thoughts!
Cheers,
OnMedic
flyingcat2k
Mar 3, 06, 4:13 pm
If WJ thought there was a local market for DEN-YYC, they'd do it.
I think FRNT's move into YYC is more to challenge Alaska's sched service into Mexico via LAX or SEA.
The tour operators do very well with the n/s YYC - Mexico stuff in the winter, with WJ operating most of the capacity.
I don't think FRNT's 1 stop / change of plane service from YYC to LAS/PHX/LAX will have much impact on current non-stop offerings for any incumbent airlines operating out of YYC.
The long term prognosis for FRNT isn't very good with LUV in DEN these days.
I doubt Frontier will last a year in YYC.
If the oil business wasn't booming, I do not believe that F9 (Frontier) would make YYC an opening gambit. There are rumors on both sides of the border of some kind of a code share once the new reservation system starts. If it's next year, "big" deal. Most of the times are keyed into the oil traffic rather than the tourist traffic to Mexico.
Having been through LAX, PHX, SEA and LAS within the past 2 years, DEN has a very good airport. PHX is much like SLC involving a large amount of walking to get from terminal to terminal for connections. LAX is a mess and getting worse if they elect to get in the A380 business. My impression of SEA and LAS are good and haven't had a large number of issues with these airports. If I had to pick between these five, it would be LAS, DEN, SEA for connections.
WN (Southwest) has not effected F9 from the standpoint of dropping prices substantially or overwhelming the flights out of DEN yet. This is according to company sources so take it with a grain of salt. I would be more worried about the impact on UA than F9 due to much higher overhead costs even after the bankruptcy.
WN has a definative customer appeal can not fly directly into LUV (Love Field in Dallas) from Colorado and only flies into Hobby in Houston from DEN. WN also does not fly internationally so this is a better move for F9 from a company standpoint. I do not believe that they will grow the market in YYC if they continue to fly CR7s for long. They do have better service including 100% personal Direct TV service on the Airbus service which is not offered by any airline out of YYC right now. It is not on the CR7s.