Number of U.S. seats to increase 38.3 per cent in 2008; WestJet adds U.S. and Sun destinations

Edmonton, Alta. – A U.S. economic slide isn’t stopping double-digit passenger growth and seat capacity increases between Edmonton International Airport (EIA) and its 10 non-stop U.S. destinations. Edmonton’s robust economy is bucking the North American-wide trend for deep airline capacity reductions, especially in the U.S.

The outlook for continued growth was bolstered earlier this week with significant flight additions and capacity increases announced by WestJet. EIA currently serves 41 flights to and from the 10 U.S. destinations and that number will climb to 48 daily in November 2008. The new flights are scheduled to begin in November, lifting EIA’s U.S. capacity increase to 38.3 per cent compared to November 2007, an extraordinary figure when set against the backdrop of high fuel prices and capacity decreases in U.S. routes and some Canada-U.S. routes in other Canadian cities.

“Overall, our passenger numbers to the end of June have increased by seven per cent over the same time period in 2007, which was a record-breaking year for us,” says Peter McCart, EIA Vice-President, Marketing. “This strong growth is underpinned by remarkable 14 per cent passenger growth in the U.S. market, indicating Edmonton’s and Northwestern Canada’s economies remain strong in an overall softening North American economy.”

WestJet adds 19 new flights per week

Taking advantage of Edmonton’s still robust economy and demand for air travel, WestJet earlier this week announced the following new non-stop destinations and flight increases on existing routes:

Edmonton – Cancun, two times per week (NEW)
Edmonton – Puerto Vallarta, two times per week (NEW)
Edmonton – Los Angeles, three times per week, year-round (NEW)
Edmonton – Las Vegas, twice daily (up from one daily)
Edmonton – Mazatlan, twice per week (up from one per week)
Edmonton – Phoenix, once daily (up from 4 times per week)
Edmonton – Palm Springs, four per week (seasonal up from three times per week)
Edmonton – Cabo San Lucas, one per week (seasonal)

Additional flights to Mexico sun destinations are another boost for Edmonton travellers looking for a winter reprieve as the WestJet routes are scheduled, allowing increased flexibility for travellers who want to purchase their flights separately from their accommodations. The scheduled flights also allow Mexican travellers to purchase tickets to visit Edmonton, bolstering the regional inbound tourism and visiting friends and family markets.

WestJet’s schedule allows for convenient connections between EIA and northern destinations such as Fort McMurray and Grande Prairie.

Air Canada has largely maintained its seat capacity at EIA as it manages its way through major fuel cost increases. Air Canada added significant new destinations and flights at EIA in 2006 and 2007.

In the International market, Air Canada’s London-Heathrow continues as a daily non-stop from EIA and is performing strongly. Mexicana’s three-times weekly non-stop service to Mexico City, launched in early June, is also developing a strong base of passengers, especially on the Mexico and Central America inbound service to EIA because of a growing number of Mexican workers migrating to Alberta.

Edmonton International Airport, Canada’s fastest-growing major airport over the past two years, is committed to complete and effective customer service – “we’ll move you.”

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Media Contact:

Jim Rudolph
Manager, Corporate Communications
Edmonton International Airport
Phone: (780) 890-8454
Cell: (780) 717-5117
E-mail: jrudolph@flyeia.com
Web: www.flyeia.com