WestJet yesterday celebrated its inaugural flight between Winnipeg and Los Angeles with the departure of flight WS1315 marking a major milestone for Manitoba’s tourism, trade, and business sectors, according to tourism execs.

The thrice-weekly service departs Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays on a year-round basis giving passengers a seamless four-hour link to the Southern California entertainment mecca.

“With a thriving film and television industry, our Manitoban guests and partners have long awaited this integral connection and will benefit substantially from convenient flights between both cities,” said WestJet COO John Weatherill. “As the only airline providing direct connectivity between Winnipeg and Los Angeles, this route not only supports our efforts to bolster the economic success of the communities we serve but provides a vital link that will stimulate new business, investment and tourism opportunities.”

“The excitement surrounding this new, non-stop route between Winnipeg and Los Angeles has been building ever since it was announced a few months ago,” added Winnipeg Airports Authority President & CEO Nick Hays. “Not only does it significantly enhance the connectivity of the region we serve, but it’s also meaningful for our local economy, particularly the province’s thriving film industry. We’re ecstatic to help bring this valuable route to Winnipeg Richardson International Airport and are proud to see our longstanding partnership with WestJet continue to grow to benefit all Manitobans.”

According to WestJet, the SoCal service will solidify it as the leading airline in Winnipeg, providing more non-stop routes than any other carrier.

Further, the WestJet Group will increase capacity to and from Winnipeg by 80% in comparison to 2021, serving 22 nonstop, direct routes and producing the largest year-over-year growth of any major airport in the group’s network.

Guests travelling beyond Los Angeles will also have access to a broad network and benefits through WestJet’s strong relationship with Delta Air Lines. This includes codeshare flights to 20 major US cities, the ability to earn and redeem WestJet Rewards on both airlines, top tier frequent flyer benefits through the entire journey, and access to Delta’s LAX SkyClub lounge for eligible guests.