WestJet is introducing a non-stop Deer Lake – Calgary route and is reinstating its non-stop Deer Lake – Toronto Pearson service.

The announcement was made this morning.

The Toronto route, which will operate four times a week, started today, while the Calgary route starts on Saturday and will run from May to September.

The CEO of the Deer Lake Airport Authority, Tammy Priddle, says they welcome WestJet’s return, and the addition of a new route, something she calls evidence of their efforts to maximize business at the west coast airport.

She says WestJet is just the latest in what they expect will be a series of new announced routes and carriers in the weeks and months ahead.

Priddle says the airport is already at 92 per cent of pre-pandemic passenger levels, with just under 300,000 passengers coming through the facility in 2023.

“It’s been a very slow crawl back from pre-COVID,” says Priddle. “We’re very hopeful that we will return to pre-COVID numbers this year, and may even exceed that, so that will be fantastic for us.”

Priddle says the airport is hoping to re-invest any added revenue into its infrastructure as they develop a 10-year master plan.