Regina YQR
Sunwing cancelling majority of remaining winter flights from Regina
Web News • 18 January 2023
WestJet adds flights between Calgary and Saskatchewan as Air Canada cuts service
Web News • 16 January 2023
Experts weigh in on the future of flights in Saskatchewan after a month of service disruptions
Sunwing Cancellation of Saskatoon and Regina flights
29 December 2022
We regret to inform Sunwing customers in Saskatoon and Regina that, due to extenuating circumstances, we are unfortunately cancelling our operations from both airports. The cancellations will take immediate effect and apply to travel from both airports up to and including Friday, February 3, 2023.
Sunwing had initially planned to supplement seasonal demand for travel from Saskatoon and Regina with the assistance of temporary foreign pilots for the winter months. When foreign pilot deployment was not agreed to, we brought in subservices to sustain our operations, however the conditions and schedule have proven too significant for our subserviced aircraft partners. We have attempted to reposition Sunwing aircraft to support but have been unable to do so as a result of flight delays and cancellations brought on by recent weather disruptions, and heavy demand over the peak holiday period.
We recognize that, despite our best efforts, we have failed to deliver on our customers’ expectations, and we deeply apologize for not meeting the standards of service our Saskatoon and Regina customers rightfully expect.
Please note that impacted customers with cancelled southbound departures will receive a full refund to their original form of payment. No action is required from customers and refunds will be processed within 30 days.
For our Saskatoon and Regina customers who are currently in destination, our team is proactively working to repatriate all customers with cancelled return flights, and more information on rescheduled flights will be communicated shortly.
Once again, we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and disruption to our Saskatchewan customers’ travel plans, and are doing everything possible to repatriate those in destination in the coming days.
Sunwing returns to Saskatchewan this winter with affordable flights from Saskatoon and Regina beginning in November
Saskatchewan customers can enjoy great savings on sun travel during the tour operator’s Save More Event
TORONTO, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sunwing is returning to the province of Saskatchewan this winter season, with weekly flights being offered from Saskatoon and Regina airports starting in November and running until April. The tour operator’s return will provide more options for local residents to travel to sun destinations this winter at affordable prices, at a time of rapidly increasing customer demand for tropical getaways.
“We are pleased to announce our winter flight schedule for Saskatoon and Regina, offering residents accessibly priced vacation packages with the convenience of travelling from their local airports,” said Andrew Dawson, President of Tour Operations for Sunwing. “With demand for all inclusive travel continuing to rise, we encourage our customers in Saskatchewan to book their winter getaways early to lock in their preferred resort in their destination of choice, while enjoying incredible savings during our Save More Event.”
“Saskatoon Airport is thrilled to welcome Sunwing back with a robust winter program. After several tough years, we know Saskatoonians, and residents from the surrounding communities we serve, are eager to escape the cold winter months and recharge with some much-missed sun and sand,” said CJ Dushinski, Vice President, Business Development and Service Quality at Saskatoon Airport. “Sunwing plays a big role in escaping the winter climate in Saskatchewan, and we eagerly await the first flight of the season!”
“We know that residents in southern Saskatchewan love to travel to sun destinations and there is a lot of pent-up demand from the last few years,” added Justin Reves, Manager of Customer Experience and Marketing at Regina Airport Authority. “That’s why we’re so thrilled to see this fantastic lineup of direct flights to a variety of incredible destinations with Sunwing.”
The flight schedules for Saskatoon and Regina will be as follows:
Saskatoon flight schedule
| Destination | Peak Frequency | From | To |
| Cancun | 2x weekly | 12-Nov-2022 | 10-Apr-2023 |
| Mazatlan | 1x weekly | 09-Dec-2022 | 07-Apr-2023 |
| Punta Cana | 1x weekly | 14-Dec-2022 | 05-Apr-2023 |
| Puerto Vallarta | 2x weekly | 13-Nov-2022 | 09-Apr-2023 |
| Los Cabos | 1x weekly | 08-Dec-2022 | 06-Apr-2023 |
| Varadero | 1x weekly | 13-Dec-2022 | 04-Apr-2023 |
Regina flight schedule
| Destination | Peak Frequency | From | To |
| Cancun | 2x weekly | 12-Nov-2022 | 10-Apr-2023 |
| Mazatlan | 1x weekly | 09-Dec-2022 | 07-Apr-2023 |
| Punta Cana | 1x weekly | 14-Dec-2022 | 05-Apr-2023 |
| Puerto Vallarta | 2x weekly | 13-Nov-2022 | 09-Apr-2023 |
| Los Cabos | 1x weekly | 08-Dec-2022 | 06-Apr-2023 |
| Varadero | 1x weekly | 13-Dec-2022 | 04-Apr-2023 |
Residents of Saskatoon, Regina and surrounding areas can enjoy more savings, more perks and more vacation fun during the tour operator’s Save More Event*, on now. Customers who book their winter escapes by November 6, 2022 will save up to 40% on vacation packages and enjoy added luxuries like room upgrades, exclusive beach access and more. Plus, with the purchase of one of Sunwing’s Worry Free insurance plans, customers can get even more value and peace of mind out of their winter getaways.
*Terms and conditions apply.
About Sunwing
The largest integrated travel company in North America, Sunwing has more flights to the south than any other leisure carrier with convenient direct service from airports across Canada to popular sun destinations across the U.S.A., Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. This scale enables Sunwing to offer customers exclusive deals at top-rated resorts in the most popular vacation destinations as well as cruise packages and seasonal domestic flight service. Sunwing customers benefit from the assistance of the company’s own knowledgeable destination representatives, who greet them upon arrival and support them throughout their vacation journey. The company supports the communities where it operates through the Sunwing Foundation, a charitable initiative focused on the support and development of youth and humanitarian aid.
Regina YQR’s International Airport Designation Maintained
August 11, 2022
The Regina Airport Authority is pleased to share that Transport Canada has confirmed YQR will maintain its International Designation until at least March of 2023. Transport Canada will be providing information on the process to maintain this designation beyond 2023.
“As the 15th busiest airport in the country and the airport for the capital city of Saskatchewan, it’s critical that Regina have an International Airport Designation. This international designation increases the prominence of the airport and will help grow business opportunities in all southern Saskatchewan”, said James Bogusz, President and CEO, Regina Airport Authority.
In January of 2021, the federal government revised its list of airports that had official “international” designations and removed many airports, including YQR, from the list. While YQR was able to resume transborder, Mexico, and Caribbean flights at the end of 2021, this official designation aids in YQR’s marketing efforts to receive international flights, attract new routes, maintain capacity for border processing, and help grow international business in southern Saskatchewan.
“While it is good to see the return of the designation, it should have never been removed by the federal government in the first place,” Trade and Export Development Minister Jeremy Harrison said. “As the airport for our province’s capital city, it is critical that YQR be able to provide our businesses and residents with a greater choice of destinations and the international designation will support that.”
About YQR
YQR is the 15th busiest airport in Canada and connects the local community to many major Canadian markets. YQR is proud to offer seasonal service to both the US and international sunspot destinations. The Regina Airport Authority (RAA) is a not-for-profit organization that operates YQR under a long-term lease with the Federal Government. The RAA has a mandate to operate a safe and secure airport, while looking to grow for the greater benefit of the community. YQR, It’s Your Airport!
Service to 17 sun and leisure routes returns to Regina after suspension during pandemic
WestJet brings back the heat this Winter
Airline to return 17 sun and leisure routes suspended during pandemic to destinations across the Caribbean, Mexico and U.S.
CALGARY, AB, Aug. 8, 2022 /CNW/ – WestJet today celebrated the return of 17 sun routes to its network this winter. The returning routes which were suspended for more than two years, bring enhanced connectivity and vacation options for Canadians and communities across the airline’s network.
“The restart of these routes is another positive step in the restoration our network as we solidify WestJet as the reliable, friendly and affordable airline we are known to be,” said John Weatherill, WestJet Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer. “We recognize the past three winters have been disruptive to our guests travel plans and we look forward to reconnecting Canadians to some of the warmer destinations they have missed the most.”
The airline today also announced new six-times weekly regional service between Penticton, B.C., and Vancouver beginning on February 17, 2023 on WestJet Link along with the restart of domestic connectivity between Edmonton and Nanaimo, B.C.
Highlights from WestJet’s winter schedule release:
Sun and Leisure, Transborder and Transatlantic:
- Restart of 17 sun and leisure routes suspended since 2019
- 45 per cent increase to sun and leisure flights from winter 2021
- 60 per cent increase in transborder flights from winter 2021
- 25 per cent increase in transatlantic flights from winter 2021
WestJet’s investments in sun, transborder and leisure flying are growing across the country with:
- A 50% increase in flights from Central/Eastern Canada from winter 2021
- A 55% increase in flights from Western Canada from winter 2021
Network-wide:
- 65 per cent increase in flights to/from Winnipeg (YWG) from winter 2021
- 50 per cent increase in flights to/from Edmonton (YEG) from winter 2021
- 35 per cent increase in flights to/from Vancouver (YVR) from winter 2021
- 30 per cent increase in flights to/from Calgary (YYC) from winter 2021
- 10 per cent increase in flights to/from Toronto (YYZ) from winter 2021
Domestic:
- New domestic connection between Vancouver and Penticton, B.C., on WestJet Link
- Restart of Edmonton-Nanaimo route suspended since 2019
- 25 per cent overall increase in flights network-wide domestically from winter 2021
Transborder Restarts:
| Route | Restart Date | Peak Frequency | Operated By |
| Kelowna – Phoenix | November 16, 2022 | 1x Weekly | WestJet |
| Saskatoon – Las Vegas | November 10, 2022 | 2x Weekly | WestJet |
| Saskatoon – Orlando* | December 16, 2022 | 1x Weekly | WestJet |
| Regina – Las Vegas | November 10, 2022 | 2x Weekly | WestJet |
| Regina – Orlando | December 16, 2022 | 1x Weekly | WestJet |
| Vancouver – Orlando | November 12, 2022 | 1x Weekly | WestJet |
| Winnipeg – Phoenix | October 31, 2022 | 2x Weekly | WestJet |
| St. John’s – Tampa Bay | March 19, 2023 | 1x Weekly | WestJet |
Carribean, Mexico, Central American Restarts:
| Route | Restart Date | Peak Frequency | Operated By |
| Calgary – Belize City | November 18, 2022 | 1x Weekly | WestJet |
| Calgary – Nassau | November 26, 2022 | 1x weekly | WestJet |
| Calgary – Varadero | November 5, 2022 | 1x Weekly | WestJet |
| Comox – Puerto Vallarta | November 5, 2022 | 1x Weekly | WestJet |
| Ottawa – Montego Bay | November 12, 2022 | 2x Weekly | WestJet |
| Regina – Cancun* | November 13, 2022 | 2x Weekly | WestJet |
| Toronto – Cayo Coco | November 5, 2022 | 1x Weekly | WestJet |
| Toronto – Samana | December 17, 2022 | 1x Weekly | WestJet |
| Winnipeg – Montego Bay | December 17, 2022 | 1x Weekly | WestJet |
Domestic Routes:
| Route | Start Date | Frequency | Operated by |
| Vancouver – Penticton* | February 17, 2023 | 6x Weekly | WestJet Link |
| Edmonton – Nanaimo | October 30, 2022 | 3x Weekly | WestJet Encore |
About WestJet
In 26 years of serving Canadians, WestJet has cut airfares in half and increased the flying population in Canada to more than 50 per cent. WestJet launched in 1996 with three aircraft, 250 employees and five destinations, growing over the years to more than 180 aircraft, 14,000 employees and more than 100 destinations in 23 countries, pre-pandemic.
Since the start of the pandemic the WestJet Group of Companies has built a layered framework of safety measures to ensure Canadians can continue to travel safely and responsibly through the airline’s Safety Above All hygiene program. During this time, WestJet has maintained its status as one of the top-10 on-time airlines in North America as named by Cirium.
For more information about everything WestJet, please visit westjet.com.
Air Canada cancellations not directly impacting Regina, Saskatoon airports
Web News • 30 June 2022
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