Late last year WestJet, the second largest airline in Canada, announced that it would launch 3x weekly service between Austin and Vancouver. Now, we have an unfortunate update as WestJet has quietly pulled the service less than two weeks before launch.
WestJet Pulls Austin to Vancouver Flights due to Declining Demand
Rewind to November 2024 and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) was seeing a boom in travel demand. WestJet announced that it would launch the new service, going head-to-head against rival Air Canada on the route. At the time, here’s what Daniel Fajardo, WestJet Vice President of Network and Schedule Planning, had to say:
“As we continue to strengthen our service across Western Canada, we are proud to add new WestJet service between Vancouver and Austin as part of our expanded summer schedule. This service will provide a valuable connection between the Greater Vancouver Area and Southern U.S., offering guests a convenient and affordable way to explore Austin’s thriving music scene and renowned culinary culture, while also providing U.S.-based guests access to one of Canada’s most iconic metropolises.”
Now, a few short months later, we’ve seen travel demand between the United States and Canada plummet due to an ongoing trade war. A WestJet spokesperson told local NBC News affiliate KXAN that, “due to a downward shift in demand for U.S. travel, WestJet has made the difficult decision to suspend scheduled direct service between Vancouver, British Columbia, and Austin, Texas.”
As of now, Air Canada will continue to offer flights between Austin and Vancouver while WestJet will keep flying between Austin and its home base at Calgary International Airport (YYC). No timetable has been given for when WestJet plans to re-evaluate market conditions but it’s safe to say that this isn’t the last route airports across the country will see cut due to tensions with our neighbors up north.
Summary
The ongoing trade war with Canada is hitting close to home as WestJet has elected to suspend its route between Austin and Vancouver due to a decrease in demand for U.S. travel. Air Canada will continue to operate the Austin-Vancouver route while WestJet will serve Austin via its Calgary hub.
(Image courtesy Brett Spangler, you can find more of his work on Instagram at @atx.spotter)
It’s not because of a trade war. He threatened to annex the country and continues to call it the 51st state.