(Trinidad Express) Trinidad and Tobago’s air travel industry is getting some new competition.
Starting November 16, Canadian carrier WestJet will launch a Port of Spain to Toronto service from the Piarco International Airport.
Director general of the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority Ramesh Lutchmedial confirmed on Wednesday that WestJet received a licence to operate the Toronto service.
“The Toronto to Port of Spain agreement (for WestJet) was executed in accordance with the air service agreement that currently exists between Trinidad and Tobago and Canada,” he said by phone.
The company will operate the Toronto/Port of Spain route as a seasonal service, offering nonstop flights to and from Toronto until April 27, 2013.
State carrier Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL), EZjet and charter Sunwing Airlines offer Port of Spain to Toronto flights.
Asked yesterday about the possible impact of the service by WestJet, head of corporate communications at CAL Clint Williams told the Express: “CAL always welcomes competition. We have proven value to our loyal customers. We have an excellent and unique service and we have seen competitors come and go over the years.”
WestJet was founded in 1996 by a team of Calgary entrepreneurs, headed by Clive Beddoe, as a western Canadian regional carrier with three aircraft flying to five cities.
Today, WestJet is a low-fare airline offering scheduled service to 76 destinations in Canada, the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean, with its fleet of 98 Boeing Next Generation 737 aircraft, according to its website westjet.com.
