Calgary gets more direct flights to California, Tokyo

CALGARY – The number of destinations available directly from Calgary got a boost Wednesday, with WestJet announcing a new flight to southern California and Air Canada increasing its Tokyo schedule.

WestJet will begin flying into John Wayne Airport in Orange County daily in June, adding to the carrier’s scheduled Los Angeles flights.

Hugh Dunleavy, the airline’s executive vice-president of strategy and planning, pointed out in a release the airport, which it will also service from Vancouver, is close to Disneyland.

Air Canada said based on demand, in March it will be upping its non-stop Calgary-Tokyo flights to five days a week from the three that began operating last summer.

"Demand for Air Canada’s non-stop Calgary-Tokyo Narita service has been strong from business and leisure travelers, as well as freight forwarders. We are very pleased after just one season operating the only scheduled direct service between Alberta and Asia to be able to increase flights on this route," Ben Smith, Air Canada’s chief commercial officer, said in a release.

Air Canada said it will take steps to continue non-stop service on a year-round basis, subject to obtaining the necessary approvals in Japan.

Calgary Herald