WestJet to launch service at Brandon airport

Residents of Brandon, Man., are buzzing over news that WestJet will be flying in and out of the city this year.

On Monday, WestJet announced that it willstart landing at the Brandon airport this fall.

The Wheat City becomes the 10thlocation to get service from WestJets regional service, known as Encore.

Based in western Canada,the recently announced service aims to provide affordable flights in smaller markets.

WestJet made the announcement on its website Monday morning, saying it's "excited to announce service to Brandon, MB starting September 3, 2013."

Lois MacDonald, the manager of Brandon Tourism, says the new carrier will also mean more visitors coming to the city.

The airline is offering introductory one-way faresstarting at$99 for flights between Brandon and Calgary. With taxes and fees included,flying from Calgary to Brandon would costa total of $162.

Could bring more visitors to Brandon

Brandon has long campaigned for WestJet to make stops in the city, citing demand from workers in the area's oil and infrastructure industries."Here at the visitor's centrewe receive phone calls very regularly from individuals that want to know how to fly into Brandon," she said.

"We're thrilled that we can fly out of our city to, you know, go to places that we need to go, and we're even so much happier to be able to welcome visitors and guests into our city by air."

When the airline first announced it was expanding its services, Brandon began efforts on social media and started a petition.

The city was initially passed over by WestJet for the first round of Encore service, which begins this June.