WestJet to fly from Hamilton to Vancouver 3 times a week this summer

WestJet will offer direct flights from Hamilton to Vancouver three times a week this summer.

The company announced Monday that it will offer the frequent flights from the John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport to Vancouver from June 30 to Sept. 4. One-way fares start at $266.83.

It's good news for the Hamilton airport, which is trying to make good on a long-time pledge to boost passenger flight numbers. The news comes in the same month that Air Canada pledged twice-daily flights from Hamilton to Montreal.

"We're very excited with WestJet's announcement to operate non-stop flights from Hamilton to Vancouver this summer," said Frank Scremin, the airport's president and CEO, in a statement.

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"A number of passengers currently fly to Vancouver from Hamilton, by way of Calgary. This new service will provide them with an opportunity to fly direct."

Three times a week, flights will leave Vancouver at 10:15 a.m. and land in Hamilton at 5:35 p.m. Flights in the other direction will leave Hamilton at 6:40 p.m. and land at 8:38 p.m.

The airline will also offer direct flights from Toronto to Brandon, Man.and from Vancouver to London, Ont.

If the routes are popular, they could stay, said John Weatherill, WestJet's director of network and schedule planning.

"Based on guests' response during this summer, we will determine if these three routes are viable options in the future."

The announcement, and the Air Canada flights, area bright spot after a false start in Hamilton by NewLeaf, a new Canadian discount carrier. The company made a splashy announcement in January only to be grounded indefinitely over licensing regulations.