WestJet "Passenger Perks" - Huge Mexico Increase

WestJet will be adding flights from Moncton, Toronto, Montréal, Hamilton, Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Kelowna, Prince George, Abbotsford, Victoria and Comox to Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas.

http://micro.newswire.ca/release.cgi?rkey=1706042821&view=87295-2&Start=0

Nothing new with some of these routings.
YXS/YQQ/YYJ-PVR were done last winter.

They better be crossing their fingers that swine flu doesn't come roaring back this Fall in Mexico.

Nothing new with some of these routings.
YXS/YQQ/YYJ-PVR were done last winter.

I think that these were charter flights last winter and before, but this winter, flights from the above cities will be scheduled service.

They better be crossing their fingers that swine flu doesn't come roaring back this Fall in Mexico.

Thanks, Mr. Positive. Did SARS roar back?

No, SARS didn't, but SARS wasn't a flu. A lot of health experts are expecting swine flu to reappear this fall. Who knows whether it will actually happen (I certainly have no idea), but if anyone asked me whether an airline should plan a huge expansion into Mexico right now, I'd be a bit hesitant.

I suppose it's not that big of an expansion, really, since most of the flights are only once or twice a week, and the excess capacity has to go somewhere. I'm not trying to be negative, and I wish WS the best of luck, but the move does raise a few eyebrows.

I suppose it's not that big of an expansion, really, since most of the flights are only once or twice a week, and the excess capacity has to go somewhere.

Agree.

I would imagine that, with the demise of the Air Transat charter agreement, it made sense to continue to provide loyal guests from the smaller centres such as YQR, YQQ, etc with direct service rather than having them connect through a larger centre. I have personally spoken with many residents of communities that are getting the new scheduled service who expressed their happiness, citing ease of use of the smaller airport and cheaper commuting costs, that WJ served their communities to these hot spots in the winter.

I would imagine that, with the demise of the Air Transat charter agreement, it made sense to continue to provide loyal guests from the smaller centres such as YQR, YQQ, etc with direct service rather than having them connect through a larger centre. I have personally spoken with many residents of communities that are getting the new scheduled service who expressed their happiness, citing ease of use of the smaller airport and cheaper commuting costs, that WJ served their communities to these hot spots in the winter.

One would think that Transat knows the leisure business very well, and had their reasons to pull out. Could be as successful as the famous Abbotsford-Las Vegas service...

One would think that Transat knows the leisure business very well, and had their reasons to pull out. Could be as successful as the famous Abbotsford-Las Vegas service...

Yet since WestJet operated the flights, they are entirely aware of how full the flights were. They wouldn't be bringing back Prince George - Puerto Vallarta if the charters for Transat were empty.

One would think that Transat knows the leisure business very well, and had their reasons to pull out.

Who says TS pulled out? by most accounts it was WS that pulled out wanting to concentrate on it's own tour co. business model though the public face was it was an amicable split with both sides agreeing to end exisiting contracts early on an amicable basis and go their own way.

Who says TS pulled out? by most accounts it was WS that pulled out wanting to concentrate on it's own tour co. business model though the public face was it was an amicable split with both sides agreeing to end exisiting contracts early on an amicable basis and go their own way.

Terminating the agreement with WS was in the best interest of Transat. Canjet gives them access to eight (WS was 4) more fuel efficient aircraft, and, puts them in a much better position vs. Sunwing then the WS deal did.

For WS, the termination of the agreement wasn't as beneficial, Analysts say this will reduce their revenue by $60-million a year. westjetvacations is not popular and large enought to fill those planes alone. :eek:

westjetvacations is not popular and large enought to fill those planes alone.

It really doesn't matter how "popular" (you think) that website is, you can book these flights on any travel website (Expedia) or at any travel agent...^

For WS, the termination of the agreement wasn't as beneficial, Analysts say this will reduce their revenue by $60-million a year. westjetvacations is not popular and large enought to fill those planes alone. :eek:

That $60M isn't exact however and depends a certains conditions, at least according to this article (http://www.canada.com/business/fp/Transat+cuts+leasing+link+with+WestJet/1288717/story.html).

Note that this deal with TS & WS was supposed to end next year, 2010, so it's not like it was ended early on.

Terminating the agreement with WS was in the best interest of Transat. Canjet gives them access to eight (WS was 4) more fuel efficient aircraft, and, puts them in a much better position vs. Sunwing then the WS deal did.

For WS, the termination of the agreement wasn't as beneficial, Analysts say this will reduce their revenue by $60-million a year. westjetvacations is not popular and large enought to fill those planes alone.

I don't think you're correct on anything.

First, While Canjet may have 8 aircraft, Westjet has 50+ 737-700's (which were used for charters) that were available in any city Westjet provided service to. While the figure being tossed around is that Westjet had 4-6 "dedicated" aircraft for Transat, that is not the case. I remember looking at our schedule one Saturday and we had 17 charter flights in that one day operated on about 15 aircraft. No aircraft was "dedicated" to Transat; the only aircraft type that was dedicated were the 737-700's and we have 50+ of those avalable in pretty much every city we fly to. If you took all the flying in one week it might amount to 4-6 aircraft but there were no "dedicated" aircraft for Transat.

There's no doubt that there were some less desirable flight times for some cities but for the most part Westjet was able to provide aircraft at reasonable times of the day (depart Canada in morning / arrive destination in afternoon, depart destination in afternoon / return to Canada in evening) and mostly during the weekends. Some people may not care about what day of the week they leave but I'm sure someone like tcook can speak to any customer preferences for day of the week travel to the Carribean.

You also note that "Canjet gives them access to eight (WS was 4) more fuel efficient aircraft". Westjet flew 737-700 aircraft and Canjet is flying with 737-800 aircraft. Both are fuel efficient aircraft; one costs less and provides 136 seats while the other costs more and provides 189. One reason Westjet was beneficial to Transat was that it could provide lower capacity vs the 310/330's at Air Transat. This enabled Transat to operate in smaller markets (YQQ/YLW/YYJ/etc). Will the 737-800 be too large for those smaller markets? Guess we'll find out.

Finally, As WJV grew, it began to compete in a market where it was providing flights to a competitor at the same time. As a consumer, you could chose Transat or WJV but fly on the same airline. That put WJV at a disadvantage, IMO. Westjet values its brand and its brand strength (especially in Western Canada) and it needed to distance itself from Transat to strengthen its own WJV business/brand. Call it the natural evolution of its business.

Transat now has to rely on Canjet. Can Canjet recover from IROPS better than Westjet? Can Canjet provide better OTP than Westjet? Can Canjet provide better service and a more comfortable aircraft than Westjet? Guess we'll find out..

No, SARS didn't, but SARS wasn't a flu. A lot of health experts are expecting swine flu to reappear this fall. Who knows whether it will actually happen (I certainly have no idea), but if anyone asked me whether an airline should plan a huge expansion into Mexico right now, I'd be a bit hesitant.

I suppose it's not that big of an expansion, really, since most of the flights are only once or twice a week, and the excess capacity has to go somewhere. I'm not trying to be negative, and I wish WS the best of luck, but the move does raise a few eyebrows.

ACTUALLY it was discovered that SARS was the original BIRD FLU so, better watch out on those assumptions.

and did you guys all know that H1N1 has killed LESS people worldwide than the normal flu does each year in North America alone?

SARS was the original BIRD FLU

Are you sure about that? SARS is a coronavirus and flu is not; and SARS is widely accepted to come from civet cats and not birds.

I thought both were essentially viruses but I'm just a lowly TA...

I am a huge WestJet fan however I do not feel that their decision to expand service to Mexico is a wise one.

As a failed state Mexico has become notorious for kidnappings, decapitations and slaughter of innocent civilians in the drug war. It has become a routine event for police stations to be attacked by groups of armed men who outgun the police with automatic weapons.

We traveled to Ixtapa last year. Following our trip we read that the Zihuatanejo police station (which we had driven right by on our trip) had been attacked by assailants wielding machine guns and grenades.

After 8 or 10 trips to Mexico we are boycotting the country until it becomes civilized. We think that most tourists will choose the Caribbean, Hawaii, or some other destination where human life is valued a little more.

Apparently you aren't aware of how popular Mexico is for tourism.

We think that most tourists will choose the Caribbean, Hawaii, or some other destination where human life is valued a little more.

Did you know that Jamaica and the Dominican Republic have higher homicide rates than Mexico?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate

Did you know that Jamaica and the Dominican Republic have higher homicide rates than Mexico?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate

Yes, you are right.

Here is a little news item from yesterday that reassured me.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gMi5B2USfJStXxfqgWWr2xjRYpOgD98LVPJO1

We'll cancel our trip to the big island and go to Mexico instead.

Not going to catch me in Mexico....other than perhaps Baja but even then. Maui for me thanks! :)

a failed state MexicoYou obviously have not been very many places...

the drug war.Fueled by the rest of North America's insatiable hunger for drugs, including Canada.

After 8 or 10 trips to Mexico we are boycotting the country until it becomes civilized. Great, more room for better people in Mexico.

We think that most tourists will choose the Caribbean, Hawaii, or some other destination where human life is valued a little more.Thank goodness that on this you're clueless.

I still can't get over the arrogance of some people.

I don't think you're correct on anything.
..

But of course you're not biased :rolleyes:

I'm sure that shootout around Acapulco will do wonders for Mexican tourism,
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/07/acapulco-resort-shooting-_n_212288.html

Especially when coupled with swine flu (which, to the other misinformed poster, is not the same as SARS).

But of course you're not biased :rolleyes:

I'm sure that shootout around Acapulco will do wonders for Mexican tourism,
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/07/acapulco-resort-shooting-_n_212288.html

Especially when coupled with swine flu (which, to the other misinformed poster, is not the same as SARS).

Listen to LeSabre74 who's from YVR which has seen plenty drug related shootings & murders of its own this year.