Officials from WestJet and the provincial government announced plans for Calgary to become the airline's only hub and bring billions of dollars in economic benefits to the area..The airline announced Thursday its entire fleet of wide-body Dreamliners will now be based in Calgary with connecting flights coming in to bolster the number of passengers on its departing flights..In turn, Premier Jason Kenney promised millions of dollars in taxpayer cash for WestJet to help achieve it's lofty goals..A source told the Western Standard there was an emergency cabinet meeting held at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday to discuss the plans.."This is a blockbuster announcement and is one of the most important in Alberta's modern economic history," said Kenney at a press conference at YYC.."WestJet approached us about a month ago to make Calgary the central hub," Kenney said..“This is a blockbuster day for Alberta and a game-changer for our economy. Diversification and economic development are happening right here in Alberta. By choosing Calgary as its single global hub, locating its entire Dreamliner fleet here and increasing its annual seat capacity by 80%, WestJet will massively improve global connectivity, tourism and options for passengers.".“Alberta has been WestJet’s home for 26 years and this historic agreement builds upon an existing foundation of low taxes and investment-friendly policies," said WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech.."As Western Canada’s home team carrier, Alberta is an area where we want to continue to invest to secure WestJet’s thriving future. Through the pandemic and onward, the Government of Alberta prioritized the importance and advancement of aviation and the visitor economy across the province and recognized aviation is central to the economic diversification of Alberta.”.As part of the agreement, the province will help address the skilled labour shortage faced by the aviation industry by providing Mount Royal University with $7.1 million in capital and a total of $1.06 million in operating funding..The new operating funding will allow MRU to add an additional 40 seats in its popular aviation diploma program to help meet the known labour market demand for pilots..The UCP also agreed to buy a $25 million 737 simulator to be based in Calgary..The government said it will also expand bursary and student loan programs for in-demand aviation occupations, including pilots and aviation maintenance personnel..The Alberta government will also build an aviation centre of excellence to accelerate pilot training. Funding for the centre is subject to project approval..Kenney said Alberta will also explore the creation of an advanced commercial aviation training program at one or more of its post-secondary institutions..To assist the Alberta tourism sector which is still recovering from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the province will increase marketing funding for Travel Alberta to $10 million annually over five years, up from $6.5 million..The funding will be available to Alberta-based carriers and will prioritize operations from new international and intercontinental markets, including Asian markets, improving access for visitors to Alberta..To support training for new jobs that will be created as a result of the agreement, the government said it will fund a labour market training program of $5 million annually over three years to offset training costs in this sector. .In return for the government spending, WestJet will create a hub at the Calgary International Airport (YYC) by stationing 100 aircraft there, an increase from 60. It will also base its fleet of seven 787-9 Dreamliners at the YYC hub. .WestJet also plans to build a single global connecting hub at YYC to enable more new destinations and frequencies to existing markets and launch multiple new long-haul international routes.."We have committed to pursue in aviation fuel taxes to match what we've done for automobile drivers when gas and oil prices are high," Kenney said.."The details will be worked out between WestJet and the Department of Finance, of course all of that is subject to legislation. But this is a cost cutting measure for consumers."."It means that we already have the lowest aviation fuel taxes, it means there'll be even lower and those savings will be passed on to Alberta passengers," Kenney said.
Officials from WestJet and the provincial government announced plans for Calgary to become the airline's only hub and bring billions of dollars in economic benefits to the area..The airline announced Thursday its entire fleet of wide-body Dreamliners will now be based in Calgary with connecting flights coming in to bolster the number of passengers on its departing flights..In turn, Premier Jason Kenney promised millions of dollars in taxpayer cash for WestJet to help achieve it's lofty goals..A source told the Western Standard there was an emergency cabinet meeting held at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday to discuss the plans.."This is a blockbuster announcement and is one of the most important in Alberta's modern economic history," said Kenney at a press conference at YYC.."WestJet approached us about a month ago to make Calgary the central hub," Kenney said..“This is a blockbuster day for Alberta and a game-changer for our economy. Diversification and economic development are happening right here in Alberta. By choosing Calgary as its single global hub, locating its entire Dreamliner fleet here and increasing its annual seat capacity by 80%, WestJet will massively improve global connectivity, tourism and options for passengers.".“Alberta has been WestJet’s home for 26 years and this historic agreement builds upon an existing foundation of low taxes and investment-friendly policies," said WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech.."As Western Canada’s home team carrier, Alberta is an area where we want to continue to invest to secure WestJet’s thriving future. Through the pandemic and onward, the Government of Alberta prioritized the importance and advancement of aviation and the visitor economy across the province and recognized aviation is central to the economic diversification of Alberta.”.As part of the agreement, the province will help address the skilled labour shortage faced by the aviation industry by providing Mount Royal University with $7.1 million in capital and a total of $1.06 million in operating funding..The new operating funding will allow MRU to add an additional 40 seats in its popular aviation diploma program to help meet the known labour market demand for pilots..The UCP also agreed to buy a $25 million 737 simulator to be based in Calgary..The government said it will also expand bursary and student loan programs for in-demand aviation occupations, including pilots and aviation maintenance personnel..The Alberta government will also build an aviation centre of excellence to accelerate pilot training. Funding for the centre is subject to project approval..Kenney said Alberta will also explore the creation of an advanced commercial aviation training program at one or more of its post-secondary institutions..To assist the Alberta tourism sector which is still recovering from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the province will increase marketing funding for Travel Alberta to $10 million annually over five years, up from $6.5 million..The funding will be available to Alberta-based carriers and will prioritize operations from new international and intercontinental markets, including Asian markets, improving access for visitors to Alberta..To support training for new jobs that will be created as a result of the agreement, the government said it will fund a labour market training program of $5 million annually over three years to offset training costs in this sector. .In return for the government spending, WestJet will create a hub at the Calgary International Airport (YYC) by stationing 100 aircraft there, an increase from 60. It will also base its fleet of seven 787-9 Dreamliners at the YYC hub. .WestJet also plans to build a single global connecting hub at YYC to enable more new destinations and frequencies to existing markets and launch multiple new long-haul international routes.."We have committed to pursue in aviation fuel taxes to match what we've done for automobile drivers when gas and oil prices are high," Kenney said.."The details will be worked out between WestJet and the Department of Finance, of course all of that is subject to legislation. But this is a cost cutting measure for consumers."."It means that we already have the lowest aviation fuel taxes, it means there'll be even lower and those savings will be passed on to Alberta passengers," Kenney said.