WestJet is cancelling its Deer Lake-Halifax service as of Oct. 28.
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The airline confirmed the cancellation in an emailed response to a request for an interview on Wednesday. It has operated the two flights daily service since July 2015.
The company said it appreciates and recognizes that the decision is unfortunate news for Deer Lake.
WestJet said network decisions about routes and frequency are based on data, sophisticated planning tools, guest feedback and, ultimately, consumer demand.
“The decisions to remove a route or reduce the number of flights are not taken lightly, and all trade-offs are weighed against the benefits. Ultimately, we have a responsibility to use our assets to provide a service that most guests are looking for and that gives a reasonable return on investment for our shareholders,” said the statement.
While the airline has made select additions to its winter schedule, it said the capacity reductions it announced are designed to reduce capacity to be more in line with consumer demand.
It said each route across its network is evaluated on an ongoing basis and it regularly reviews its network and routes to see where changes can be made in the best interests of its guests and the company.
“We must be nimble and flexible to remain competitive in the market,” said the statement.
WestJet said changes are not just taking place in Atlantic Canada. The airline is reducing its available seat miles across its network by almost six percentage points versus the previous booking schedule, which equates to approximately 460 million available seat miles.
WestJet said it will continue to evaluate the situation and make changes as necessary.
The airline’s non-stop, seasonal summer service between Deer Lake and Toronto is not affected.
WestJet said passengers with bookings beyond Oct. 28 will be offered refunds or rebooked on PAL, its interline partner.
