Westjet Airline To Offer Winter Service
Westjet, the low cost Canadian airline which began service to Bermuda in May 2010, will extend their service to Bermuda to include three weekly flights over the winter period.
Currently WestJet flies once daily between Toronto and Bermuda through October 31, 2010, and beginning November 1st 2010 through April 30th, 2011 the airline will fly three times per week, providing direct non-stop service between Toronto and Bermuda on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, resuming daily service in May 2011. The airline offers one way fares starting from under $100.
The new service from Westjet was the first time in almost 70 years Bermuda attracted a new airline serving us from Canada, and was a result of a multi year effort from the Ministry of Tourism and Transport.
The photo below shows the Premier disembarking from Westjet’s inaugural flight landing in Bermuda on May 3rd:
The full statement from Premier Dr Ewart Brown in the House of Assembly on June 25th follows below:
Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to deliver some exciting tourism news to the Members of this Honourable House this afternoon. Mr. Speaker it was only last month that Canada based airline WestJet made its inaugural visit to Bermuda.
Mr. Speaker prior to the WestJet service, you and the Members of the Honourable House would be well aware that we had been searching for a Canadian airline that would introduce a low cost service from Toronto to compete with the service that Air Canada has provided for generations. We found that service with WestJet.
Currently WestJet flies once daily between Toronto and Bermuda through October 31, 2010.
Mr. Speaker I am pleased to note that since its launch, our Ministry of Tourism and Transport team has been working diligently with WestJet to ensure the success of the flight during its inaugural Summer season..
Mr. Speaker if that wasn’t enough good news, today I’m pleased to reveal that beginning November 1st 2010 through April 30th, 2011 the airline will fly three times per week, providing direct non-stop service between Toronto and Bermuda on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
In May 2011 it will resume seven day-a-week service.
This development marks one of the first times that Westjet has ever entered a new island destination with year round service. Incidentally Mr. Speaker, when it commenced its Bermuda service last month, it marked the first time the airline had ever entered a new island market with daily service.
The airline will continue to operate a Boeing 737 aircraft with a 136-seat capacity, departing Toronto at 10.20 a.m. arriving in Bermuda at 2.08 p.m. with the return flight departing at 3.00 p.m. arriving in Toronto at 4.55 p.m.
Mr. Speaker WestJet enjoys an outstanding reputation for caring, affordable service – and in Bermuda we recognise and appreciate those qualities.
We believe that this new service will continue to prove attractive for our visitors from Canada and provide another option for Bermudians seeking to travel abroad.
Mr. Speaker, this latest news represents another example of how we at the Ministry of Tourism and Transport are cranking up the notch in our efforts to get visitors to our shores.
In fact the past several days have been some very busy and rewarding ones for Bermuda Tourism.
Here are a few highlights.
Last week Mr. Speaker you’ll recall we had the Bermuda Night event at the famed Fenway Park in Boston.
Several thousand people at that stadium Mr. Speaker had an opportunity to see some of Bermuda’s best and brightest talent on display at the Red Sox game, including Twanee Butterfield singing the US National Anthem, a performance by the Gombeys, and local and international soccer hero Khano Smith throwing out the first pitch.
By all accounts the event was a resounding success.
This week, Mr. Speaker, Bermuda is busting at the seams with visitors.
Our hotels are experiencing vibrant business, thanks to the Newport to Bermuda Yacht race.
And I want to take this opportunity to publicly express my appreciation to all of the participants and visitors who are on our shores for this event, as well as the organisers for ensuring a first class event.
We truly welcome their support of our tourism product.
Mr. Speaker, all of these developments are critical to the success of our tourism product.
For that reason, I want to encourage all Members this afternoon as well as our residents to not only embrace this exciting news, but to support our efforts in ensuring that Bermuda Tourism reaches the pinnacle as the tourism destination of choice.
Thank you Mr. Speaker.
