REGINA – More frequent WestJet Encore flights could soon be leaving Regina.
Daily service to Winnipeg launched on Wednesday, following a five-year hiatus.
The regional carrier plans to double its fleet of eight aircraft by the end of 2014, which likely means more destinations and connections available from Regina.
“We hope to have 45 (aircraft) over the course of the next five years,” said Ferio Pugliese, WestJet Encore president. “What that does for us is it allows us to add additional frequency, which gives you more opportunities and more options for connectivity.”
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Pugliese also suggested WestJet Encore could add trans-border service to U.S. destinations, such as Minneapolis.
Flights from Regina to Winnipeg will take off early weekday mornings and again in the afternoon.
If the service is popular, Pugliese says expansion of the route may be possible.
The Regina Airport Authority says the passenger base in southern Saskatchewan continues to grow.
“We now have well over 1.2 million passengers a year going through this place,” said Jim Hunter, president and CEO. “Sooner or later we’re going to hit a point where the airlines look at us and say, ‘Maybe a non-stop out of (Regina) would be a good idea.'”
One-way fares between Regina and Winnipeg, including tax, begin at $130.
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