WestJet redeploys network to new locations after decline in demand for flights to U.S.

Andrew Jeffrey · CBC News

· Posted: Jul 07, 2025 7:31 PM EDT | Last Updated: 40 minutes ago

WestJet's docket of nonstop flights is opening up to caller locations successful Mexico and Central America aft the hose saw a descent successful request for U.S. destinations this year. 

On Monday, WestJet announced 5 caller routes to warmer cities arsenic portion of its upcoming wintertime schedule. The caller destinations see Guadalajara, Tepic and Cozumel successful Mexico, arsenic good arsenic Panama City, and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

John Weatherill, WestJet Group enforcement vice president and main commercialized officer, said the caller destinations travel arsenic the institution makes web adjustments to relationship for "the geopolitical environment" this year. The hose has seen a diminution successful request from Canadian travellers funny successful flying to the U.S.

"As a result, we've redeployed immoderate of our capableness into home markets crossed the Atlantic and to [Latin America and] Caribbean destinations," Weatherill said. 

"We've seen that request concern stabilize, but it's hard to accidental however it's going to make going forward. But we person a batch of assurance successful the destinations that we're offering today."

A diminution successful user involvement for U.S. question has been recorded successful Canada since U.S. President Donald Trump took bureau successful January and began commenting connected a tendency to marque Canada the 51st authorities of his country. Many Canadians person opted not to sojourn their confederate neighbour for a fig of reasons, including the ongoing commercialized warfare betwixt the 2 countries, accrued scrutiny astatine the borderline oregon arsenic a mode to boycott the U.S.

Instead, Weatherill said the institution has seen much involvement from Canadians this twelvemonth successful home travel, oregon visiting Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe. 

"It's been meaningful, but it's stabilized and we anticipation to spot it statesman to improve," Weatherill said astir user request for U.S. travel.

The caller destinations are besides portion of the airline's wide strategy to scope much Latin American and Caribbean destinations, which it's pursuing careless of Canada's narration with the U.S.

Balázs Bogáts, the main commercialized serviceman astatine the Calgary airport, besides acknowledged the displacement successful request WestJet has seen.

"Due to the ongoing geopolitical challenges, WestJet decided to reallocate immoderate capableness to immoderate breathtaking caller destinations," said Bogáts

In May, WestJet paused 9 routes betwixt Canada and the U.S. arsenic a effect of declining user demand, including the way betwixt Calgary and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., which was suspended for a period successful June.