Flying Westjet Between Fort McMurray and Calgary Means Fewer Options Now
Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo residents who want to get to Calgary using Westjet now have fewer options available since the airline has reduced the number of normal scheduled flights between the two locations. Westjet has announced the cancellation of flight 3145, which travels from Calgary to Form McMurray, and flight 3148 which travels in the opposite direction. Both of the flights were operated on a Monday through Friday schedule, and could carry 78 passengers. Lauren Stewart, the spokesperson for Westjet, discussed the changes in an email. “With the downturn in t. We appreciate and recognize that this is unfortunate news for the communities involved. We will continue to evaluate the situation and make changes as necessary.” Due to competitive reasons the airline would not release the passenger load numbers on the flights canceled.
It is no secret that the passenger numbers at Fort McMurray International Airport are not what they once were, and a 16% drop in passenger numbers in the last year shows the need for caution. Westjet will cancel both flights effective March 5, and these are not the only flights that the airline has canceled. Direct flights on Westjet going to Kelowna, B.C. will be stopped on February 15, 2016. Scott Clements, the CEO of the Fort McMurray International Airport, called the latest flight cancellations understandable but disappointing. Clements explained that “Westjet just can’t sustain the flight at the current price of oil.” This leaves Wood Buffalo residents who want to get to Calgary with fewer options available.