WestJet Network Updates
Aug 25, 21, 11:33 am
#1
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WestJet Network Updates
After a bit of discussion about the suitability of other threads for general network updates, here's a thread dedicated to just that.
I'll get the ball rolling with a couple of observations of WestJet's currently-reduced (~67% of normal # of flights) schedule:
I'll get the ball rolling with a couple of observations of WestJet's currently-reduced (~67% of normal # of flights) schedule:
- Flights are grouped into more distinct waves than before, particularly at YYC:
- 9:30-10:30 - 31 departs (similar to pre-COVID)
- 13:00-13:30 - 10 departs
- 15:00-15:30 - 15 departs
- 18:45-19:15 - 11 departs
- 23:00-23:30 - 15 departs
- Departures at other times are generally limited to trunk destinations (0-4 departs per hour)
- This has caused issues for YYC itself: Bob Sartor, president and CEO of the Calgary Airport Authority, highlighted the challenge Calgary International Airport is going to face in keeping up with WestJet’s ramping up operations.
“The biggest worry we have is amenities because as WestJet peaks — which makes perfect sense from an efficiency and effectiveness perspective — we are seeing a disproportionate amount of business in smaller windows, and then we have gaps,” Sartor said.
- Some lower-frequency routes have been reinstated at notably different times to their previous daily rotations:
- YYZ-YQR
- Current: 09:15-10:35
- Previous: 21:25-22:46
- YQR-YYZ
- Current daily: 11:30-16:06
- Previous daily: 05:30-10:24
- YYZ-YXE
- Current: 09:00-10:37
- Previous: 21:35-23:10
- YXE-YYZ
- Current: 11:25-16:32
- Previous: 06:00-11:07
- YYZ-YYJ (not daily)
- Current: 09:30-11:42
- Previous: 18:00-20:14
- YYJ-YYZ (not daily)
- Current: 12:30-19:55
- Previous: 06:45-14:13
- Most of these changes appear to be more convenient and/or allow for better connections, depending on which end you're at - it'll be interesting to see if they stick going forward
- YYZ-YQR
Aug 25, 21, 6:46 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: YYJ
Posts: 4,016
Unfortunately the new timing of the YYJ-YYZ busted my connection to Icelandair.
Got rebooked on a 41 minute connection in YVR (no thanks!) before going onto YYZ and then KEF. Ended up rebooking on an earlier departure (6am) via YYC/YYZ.
Icelandair no longer offers YYJ origin flights on their website, so it looks like the new timing has eliminated the ability to fly between those city pairs.
Hardly Westjet's primary concern, I know, but nonetheless annoying.
Got rebooked on a 41 minute connection in YVR (no thanks!) before going onto YYZ and then KEF. Ended up rebooking on an earlier departure (6am) via YYC/YYZ.
Icelandair no longer offers YYJ origin flights on their website, so it looks like the new timing has eliminated the ability to fly between those city pairs.
Hardly Westjet's primary concern, I know, but nonetheless annoying.
Last edited by cedric; Aug 25, 21 at 6:51 pm
Aug 26, 21, 6:38 am
#3
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Originally Posted by cedric
Icelandair no longer offers YYJ origin flights on their website, so it looks like the new timing has eliminated the ability to fly between those city pairs.
Hardly Westjet's primary concern, I know, but nonetheless annoying.
Hardly Westjet's primary concern, I know, but nonetheless annoying.
For reference, other interline partners (ie. BA) are selling flights to re-timed destinations both pre and post October 12, even if the connections go out the window.
Aug 31, 21, 10:02 am
#4
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Copenhagen
Programs: skyteam
Posts: 490
Westjet adds Toronto to Edinburgh and Glasgow
WestJet today announced new service between Toronto and Scotland with the addition of non-stop flights to Edinburgh and Glasgow beginning in Spring 2022. Adding to the airline's international destination map, service between Edinburgh and Toronto is set to launch on June 2, 2022, while flights between Glasgow and Toronto will begin on May 20, 2022. https://www.newswire.ca/news-release...826701689.html
Last edited by cirrusdragoon; Aug 31, 21 at 10:36 am
Aug 31, 21, 11:29 am
#5
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These direct flights will be operated by the 737 MAX - at 7:17, will EDI-YYZ be WestJet's longest narrowbody service?
It seems a bit rough that if you're doing YYZ-LGW on a 787 (6:46) you get a free feed in Economy but, unless something changes between now and June 2022, those on 737 Europe flights have to buy/bring on board.
It seems a bit rough that if you're doing YYZ-LGW on a 787 (6:46) you get a free feed in Economy but, unless something changes between now and June 2022, those on 737 Europe flights have to buy/bring on board.
Aug 31, 21, 12:06 pm
#6
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Copenhagen
Programs: skyteam
Posts: 490
Originally Posted by V1213
These direct flights will be operated by the 737 MAX - at 7:17, will EDI-YYZ be WestJet's longest narrowbody service?
It seems a bit rough that if you're doing YYZ-LGW on a 787 (6:46) you get a free feed in Economy but, unless something changes between now and June 2022, those on 737 Europe flights have to buy/bring on board.
It seems a bit rough that if you're doing YYZ-LGW on a 787 (6:46) you get a free feed in Economy but, unless something changes between now and June 2022, those on 737 Europe flights have to buy/bring on board.
Sep 2, 21, 8:08 am
#10
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Originally Posted by V1213
These direct flights will be operated by the 737 MAX - at 7:17, will EDI-YYZ be WestJet's longest narrowbody service?
Originally Posted by FlyerJ
Not that far off of YYC-LIR (also operated on a 737) if I recall?
Sep 2, 21, 9:07 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Vancouver
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Posts: 2,026
Originally Posted by cirrusdragoon
Very good points. Yes will be and runner up on the YHZ to CDG run we see Y service as buy on board as well. Wonder if that will ever change , quite a long flight.
Sep 3, 21, 7:25 am
#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend and Moderator: Manufactured Spending
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Location: YEG
Posts: 55,516
Originally Posted by Fiordland
Still doing buy on board for transatlantic. How swoop like. Someone needs to have a heart-to-heart talk with WS executive management about growing up and playing with the big boys. Do these 737MAX have sufficient oven space for a hot meal for all Y passengers?
Sep 3, 21, 11:41 pm
#13
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 366
Schedule was updated to December 13? In tonight’s OAG update.
I see LGA/JFK are back, but looks like DEN got killed right into May 2022?
Also appears like they’ve back off plans to fly the 787 on YYZ-MBJ? Maybe later in the winter..
In November I see the 789 flying:
YYC-YYZ/LGW/CUN/PVR/OGG
YVR-YYZ/OGG
YYZ-LGW/CUN
I see LGA/JFK are back, but looks like DEN got killed right into May 2022?
Also appears like they’ve back off plans to fly the 787 on YYZ-MBJ? Maybe later in the winter..
In November I see the 789 flying:
YYC-YYZ/LGW/CUN/PVR/OGG
YVR-YYZ/OGG
YYZ-LGW/CUN
Sep 4, 21, 8:57 pm
#14
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The changes are now live in the GDS as well.
A few things I've noticed so far:
A few things I've noticed so far:
- The transition from the summer to winter schedule seems to happen in pieces between the middle and end of October
- YYJ-YYZ has its last flight on October 11
- YXE/YQR-YYZ move back to their old flight times on October 30/31
- YXE goes down to 4 times a week (currently daily)
- YQR goes down to 3 times a week (currently daily)
- WS6012/WS6013 (codeshare with QF76/QF75 YVR-SYD) is back. Qantas recently announced its intention to operate the service from December 18 and, unlike pre-COVID, it's currently scheduled as a year-round service (Mon, Thu & Sat only). Previously, the direct flights were only offered around Christmas and in July, so this is a significant improvement in non-Air Canada, direct connectivity to Australia
Sep 5, 21, 9:16 am
#15
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 366
Also looks like YWG and YOW both got some international flying as well with YWG-PVR/LAS and YOW-RSW. (Although they briefly had YWG-Mexico routes scheduled last winter as well before being removed).
YYC gains back a vast majority of its winter seasonal destinations (minus FLL, NAS and BZE). Even AZA is scheduled and goes up to 3x weekly in early December. DEN is the last remaining year-round Transborder destination left to be resumed with JFK now back on the schedule.
LGW maintained 2x weekly each from YYC/YYZ.
YYC gains back a vast majority of its winter seasonal destinations (minus FLL, NAS and BZE). Even AZA is scheduled and goes up to 3x weekly in early December. DEN is the last remaining year-round Transborder destination left to be resumed with JFK now back on the schedule.
LGW maintained 2x weekly each from YYC/YYZ.
