WestJet (WS, Calgary) has announced it has signed a Capacity Purchase Agreement (CPA) with Pacific Coastal Airlines (8P, Vancouver International) wherein the latter will operate regional services on its behalf under the WestJet Link brand.
The Canadian carrier said in a statement last week the first of the routes to be covered under the tie-up would involve Calgary to each of Lethbridge, Lloydminster, Medicine Hat, Cranbrook, and Prince George. Services will commence in March 2018 and will employ Pacific Coastal Airlines' Saab 340Bs, all of which will be painted in WestJet's livery.
As part of the agreement, each Saab 340B aircraft will include six seats available in WestJet Plus, offering guests advanced boarding, no-charge for two checked bags and seating at the front of the aircraft.
"This new partnership between WestJet and Pacific Coastal will allow smaller communities within Alberta and British Columbia to take advantage of Calgary's extensive route network. Bringing in new passengers from these communities provides more opportunities to support additional long-haul destinations and contributes greatly to WestJet's growth strategy out of Calgary," Bob Sartor, President and CEO for The Calgary Airport Authority, said.
For its part, Pacific Coastal Airlines is a privately-owned, British Columbia-based regional airline operating from Vancouver International. Using a fleet of four Saab 340As, three Saab 340Bs, eight Beech 1900Cs, four Beech 1900Ds, it currently serves fifteen airports and connects to more than fifteen destinations in the province. Pacific Coastal also operates two smaller aircraft, a DHC-2 and a Grumman G-21A.
