WestJet cuts 88 flights a week between B.C. and Alberta

WestJet is cutting or reducing flightsfrom sixB.C.citiestoAlberta's major airports by March 5.

Travellers can blame the downturn in oil prices,saidWestjet spokeswomanLauren Stewart.

"With the downturn in the economy, we are seeing less demand for travelto andfromenergymarkets."

Flights slashed from 6B.C. cities

WestJet's announcement means a cut of 88regularly scheduled flights a week between B.C. and Alberta.

The airlinesays it is completelycancelingdirect flights to Calgary from Terrace and Prince George, as well as all flights to EdmontonfromKamloops and Nanaimo.

WestJet will also reduce flightsbetweenPentictonandCalgaryand fromEdmonton toAbbotsford.

The airlinesays it will contacttravellers with existing reservations to make new travel arrangements.

"We appreciate and recognize that this is unfortunate news for the citizens of all of these communities," saidStewart.

It's a far cry from the jubilation that greetedWestJet'sexpansion several years ago. Back in April, 2014,WestJetstaff at the Prince George airport dressed in western gear and cowboy hats to mark the launch ofdirect flights to Calgary.

KamloopsAirportlost itsdirect connection to Edmonton in the cuts, a moveairportmanaging director FredLegacecalled"not completely unexpected."

"We've been watching the numbers on that flight reduce over the last couple of months,"LagacetoldRadio Westhost RebeccaZandbergen. "They won't fly airplanes that are next to empty very long."

Legacesays that travellers going to Northern Alberta won't be the only ones impactedas Edmonton offered connections to places in Canada and Europe not served by Calgary or Vancouver.

No surprise

Today's news is also no surprise to business analysts.

"When the economy slows down, things you do in good times, you can't keep doing," explained Charles Scott, who owns a consulting business in Prince George and lectures in business marketing at the University of Northern B.C.

Scott says the cuts will be tough on business people in smaller communities, who need to travel to Calgary to visit clients and used to be able to fly there early in the morning and return homethe same evening.

"If you don't have direct connections [to Calgary], it's significantly more than, 'Gosh, we lost the route.' Because you lost an entire day's productivity."

Still, Scott says it's a simple matter of supply and demand.

"If you're not doing the numbers into various smaller communities, you're not going to be able to support the service."

Today's announcement from WestJet does have a silver lining forB.C. holidaymakers flying fromVancouver.WestJet is adding more flights from Vancouver to San Diego, Los Angeles, and Hawaii.

WestJetcuts in B.C.

Abbotsford

WestJetisreducing service from Abbotsfordto Edmontonby 7 flights a week, starting March 5.

Nanaimo

WestJet will canceldaily service from Nanaimoto Edmonton onMarch 5.

Penticton

WestJet will cut more than half the flights from Pentictonto Calgary as ofFebruary 15, 2016. Twice daily flights will be offered only three days a week, instead of every day.

Prince George

WestJetwill canceldaily servicebetween Prince George and Calgary and cut one daily flight to Vancouver,effectiveMarch 5, 2016.

Terrace

WestJet will canceldaily service from Terrace toCalgary as ofMarch 5, 2016.

Kamloops

WestJet will canceldaily service from Kamloops to Edmonton as ofMarch 5, 2016.

To hear the interview withKamloopsAirportmanaging director FredLegace, click the audio labelled:Travellers in 6 B.C. cities face cuts and reductions in WestJet flights to Alberta