WestJet celebrates Calgary-Dublin launch

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney attends inaugural event in support of airline's efforts to strengthen Alberta's global influence

CALGARY, June 1, 2019 /CNW/ - With the departure of flight WS6 tonight, WestJet becomes the only airline operating a non-stop route between Calgary and Dublin. The airline's newest route provides historic access between Western Canada and Ireland and is the last of three 787 Dreamliner inaugurals that are central to WestJet's global strategy and focus on Calgary as its initial Dreamliner hub.

"With the launch of our third transatlantic Dreamliner flight, WestJet adds to our exceptional growth into and out of Calgary, where we remain the airline with the most destinations and departures," said Arved von zur Muehlen, WestJet Chief Commercial Officer. "With more than 4.5 million Canadians claiming Irish heritage*, we are pleased to be providing Canadians with easy access between Western Canada and Ireland."

"Today's inaugural Calgary-Dublin flight from Alberta-born and bred WestJet is a declaration of confidence in the economic future of our province, and more proof that we are open for business and ready to take on the world," said Alberta Premier, Jason Kenney.  "A thank-you to WestJet for helping to connect Alberta to the rest of the world with this and other new direct routes to international destinations."

WestJet's newest Dreamliner route adds to its existing 787-9 flights between Calgary, Paris and London (Gatwick), supporting tourism and trade between Europe and Canada. In addition, WestJet's Calgary-Dublin service complements its existing seasonal Halifax-Dublin route. WestJet has been operating flights to Dublin from Eastern Canada since 2014.

"I am delighted to welcome the launch by WestJet of its new non-stop Dreamliner service from Calgary to Dublin, beginning June 1," said Jim Kelly, Embassy of Ireland, Ambassador. "WestJet's new service will provide a major expansion of air connectivity between Western Canada and Ireland. I have no doubt that it will open new avenues for business connections and leisure tourism between Ireland and Alberta, a province where more than half a million people claim Irish heritage."

Flights between Calgary and Dublin are operated by the airline's fleet of 320-seat, 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft featuring WestJet's business, premium and economy cabins. The Dreamliner's Business cabin features all-aisle-access, lie-flat seats with on-demand dining and entertainment. The upscale Premium cabin is the ideal combination of comfort, value and guest service including a separate cabin, elevated meal service and signature welcome perks featuring sparkling wine and amenity case. WestJet's improved Economy cabin features on-demand inflight entertainment, blankets and pillows with a select number of extra legroom seats available for purchase.

By June 2019, WestJet will offer flights to 67 non-stop destinations with an average of 975 flights per week from Calgary. More Calgarians choose WestJet for their air travel than any other airline.

Details of WestJet's new non-stop Dreamliner service:

Route	Frequency	Departing	Arriving	Effective
Calgary – Dublin	3X weekly (Wed., Sat., Sun.)	8:45 p.m.	11:36 a.m. +1	June 1 to October 5, 2019
Calgary – Dublin	2x weekly (Wed. and Sat.)	8:45 p.m.	11:36 a.m. +1	October 6 to October 19, 2019
Route	Frequency	Departing	Arriving	Effective
Dublin - Calgary	3X weekly (Mon., Thu., Sun.)	1:40 p.m.	3:02 p.m.	June 2 to October 6, 2019
Dublin - Calgary	2X weekly (Thu., Sun.)	1:40 p.m.	3:02 p.m.	October 7 to October 20, 2019

Additional Stakeholder Quotes:
"We're excited that WestJet is offering our travellers a layover-free flight to Ireland's capital city," said Bob Sartor, President and CEO, The Calgary Airport Authority. "With thousands of years of history, Dublin has it all for the passengers boarding this direct Dreamliner flight. Thank you to WestJet for making another significant investment in YYC."

"We have forged a strong bond and friendship with WestJet and we are delighted to welcome its new direct service between Calgary and Dublin Airport," said Vincent Harrison, Dublin Airport Managing Director. "We are particularly pleased that the new service will offer further options and flexibility for passengers with potential onward connections to 24 destinations including Vancouver and Las Vegas. It's a great honour that WestJet has chosen Dublin Airport as part of its first group of airports to be served with its new Dreamliner aircraft. I have no doubt this new service will be popular in both directions for business and leisure passengers.  We wish WestJet every success with its new route and we will continue to work closely with them to promote the new service."

Dana Welch, Tourism Ireland's Manager Canada, said: "We are excited about WestJet's new Calgary to Dublin service on the Dreamliner and their overall expansion into Ireland. The increase provides a major boost for both leisure and business tourism from Canada to the island of Ireland. Tourism Ireland looks forward to working closely with WestJet and the Dublin Airport to drive demand for the new flights. As an island destination, the importance of convenient, direct, non-stop flights cannot be overstated – they are absolutely critical to achieving growth in inbound tourism."

About WestJet
Together with WestJet's regional airline, WestJet Encore, we offer scheduled service to more than 100 destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe and to more than 175 destinations in over 20 countries through our airline partnerships. WestJet Vacations offers affordable, flexible vacations to more than 60 destinations and the choice of more than 800 hotels, resorts, condos and villas.  Members of the WestJet Rewards program earn WestJet dollars on flights, vacation packages and more. Members use WestJet dollars towards the purchase of flights and vacations packages to any WestJet destination with no blackout periods and have access to Member Exclusive fares offering deals to WestJet destinations throughout our network and those of our partner airlines.

WestJet is proud to be recognized for three consecutive years as Best Airline in Canada (2017-19) and awarded among travellers' favourite Mid-Sized Airlines in North America (2019). From 2017-2018, WestJet was also awarded among travellers' favourite Mid-Sized and Low-Cost Airlines in North America. The airline was also recognized among the Economy Class winners in North America, 2018. All awards are based on authentic reviews from the travelling public on TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site. We are one of very few airlines globally that does not commercially overbook.

WestJet is publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol WJA. For more information about everything WestJet, please visit westjet.com.

Recent recognition includes:
2019/2018/2017 Best Airline in Canada (TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines)
2019 Winner Among Mid-Sized Airlines in North America (TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines)
2018/2017 Winner Among Mid-Sized and Low Cost Airlines – North America (TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines)
2018 Winner – Economy, North America (TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines)
2018 Number-One-Ranked Airline Credit Card in Canada (Rewards Canada)
2018 North America's Best Low-Cost Airline (Skytrax)
2018/2017/2016 Canada's Most Trusted Airline (Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria)

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*https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/immigration/history-ethnic-cultural/Pages/irish.aspx#shr-pg-pnlShareMain

**The Economic Impact of WestJet's B787 YYC-DUB/LGW/CDG Scheduled Air Service Announcements to the Calgary & Alberta Markets. Prepared by RP Erickson & Associates, October 2018.

SOURCE WESTJET, an Alberta Partnership

Media contacts: To contact WestJet media relations, please email [email protected].