WestJet and Flair cutting back on P.E.I. flights next summer

Prince Edward Islanders will have fewer options when it comes to leaving the province by air next summer. 

WestJet is cancelling three weekly flights to Toronto during the peak summer season, and Flair Airlines won't be operating out of Charlottetown at all. 

"We had discussions with both carriers late summer and there was never really an indication that this was on the plans for summer 2025," said Charlottetown Airport C.E.O. Doug Newson. 

"Anytime we lose services or we lose flights, obviously, it's disappointing and a little bit surprising." 

Newson said WestJet's move to cut flights out of Charlottetown is related to a new strategy that focuses on the airline providing service to cities in western Canada.

Meanwhile, he said Flair Airlines is reducing the number of Canadian markets it serves, but the airline would like to return to Charlottetown down the road.  

"Sometimes we get caught up in these strategic decisions and it's not necessarily a Charlottetown issue, but that's the business that we're in," he said. 

WestJet will still offer direct service to Calgary and Edmonton from Charlottetown, he said. 

Newson would like to see Air Canada and Porter pick up some of the slack from the loss of WestJet and Flair flights. 

"We are hoping to see our other airline partners pick up some of those seats that we're losing. We have not seen final schedules from all of our carrier partners yet so it presents an opportunity as well for those airlines to add some capacity," he said. 

Air Canada's schedule for 2025 is expected to be similar to the one offered this year, and Porter is still finalizing its plan for next year. 

Newson said he will have a better idea of how the overall 2025 Charlottetown airport flight schedule will look within the next six weeks.