Since WestJet Encore began daily non-stop service from Nanaimo to Calgary in June 2013, the Nanaimo Airport (YCD) has enjoyed strong passenger growth, which has resulted in the addition of a second WestJet Encore non-stop flight to Calgary, according to a press release from the airport. The new daily flight started Sunday, Oct. 26, and it arrives in Nanaimo at 6:36 p.m. and departs for Calgary at 7:06 p.m.
“We’re delighted to have WestJet initiate a second flight for Nanaimo non-stop to Calgary,” said Mike Hooper, president and CEO of the Nanaimo Airport. “It’s really underscoring the positive experience WestJet’s having serving our community. They’ve had very high passenger loads, both WestJet and Air Canada.”
This new flight brings the total daily scheduled departures from YCD to 14 flights.
Hooper says that every year for the past five years, the Nanaimo Airport has set a new record for passenger numbers.
“For the past two years, every month has been a new record,” he added. “We’re delighted we can offer new and more-widely-spread service to people in the community. Both Air Canada and WestJet do excellent jobs of meeting the needs of folks in our service areas.”
In the first six months of 2014, the airport has enjoyed an average of 33.3 per cent growth per month. Year-to-date growth in 2014 has been 21 per cent.
Hooper attributes the growth in recent years to substantial increases in reliability, increases in the number of flights and destinations, and the competitive pricing put in place by the air carriers.
