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Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/41819
TOURISM New Airline Schedule Changes Mean Good News For Las Vegas By Richard N. Velott a As seasons change, so do airline flight schedules, and in recent years, Las Vegas has received bad news when summer vacation time ended. But not this year. Southwest Airlines, WestJet and Allegiant Air made a flurry of announcements last week for new service to and from McCarran International Airport. Southwest made its long-expected nonstop service plan for Atlanta flights official, WestJet announced seasonal snowbird flights to and from eight Canadian cities, and Allegiant announced service to two Midwest college towns. The only bad news Las Vegas got was confirmation from US Airways that it plans to cut its McCarran schedule by 40 percent. Southwest's Atlanta plans had been the object of speculation ever since the airline in May closed its $1 billion deal to acquire AirTran, the second-largest operator at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. As recently as last August, Southwest officials said they had no timetable for starting nonstop service to and from Atlanta. Beginning March 10, Southwest will offer a daily nonstop flight between Las Vegas and Atlanta leaving McCarran 1,760 The number of additional seats per week that WestJet, the busiest international carrier at McCarran International Airport, will bring to the market on flights from eight cities — an 18 percent increase from what it offered at the same time a year ago. A CLOSER LOOK AT WESTJET'S EXPANSION Here is a rundown of the cities, frequencies and schedule of service for the eight WestJet destinations to and from Las Vegas: Victoria, British Columbia. Flights operate three times a week—Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays—through November and will revert back to twice weekly Thursdays and Sundays December through April 26. OH, CANADA: WestJet is adding seasonal fl ights to and from eight Canadian cities and Las Vegas. at 6 p.m., and a return flight leaving Atlanta at 7:35 a.m. The airline also will have seven one-stop flights from Las Vegas to Atlanta and nine one-stop trips to Las Vegas from there. Southwest will use 137-passenger Boeing 737 twin-engine jets on the route to Hartsfield-Jackson, the nation's busiest airport. To and from Las Vegas, Southwest will compete on the route with Delta Air Lines, whose headquarters is in Atlanta and which has eight daily round trips to and from McCarran. In addition, AirTran will continue to operate four daily round trips between the two cities. WestJet's seasonal expansion will take the Canadian discount carrier to the highest number of seats in the market since it began flying here in 2008. WestJet, the busiest international carrier at McCarran, will bring an additional 1,760 seats per week to the market on flights from eight cities . That's 18 percent more than 2010. SEE AIRLINES PAGE 12 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. All Wednesday and Saturday flights run September 7 through April 28. Ottawa, Ontario. Thursday and Sunday flights started Thursday and will run through April 26. Hamilton, Ontario. Monday and Friday flights started Friday and will run through Nov. 28. Regina, Saskatchwan. Monday and Friday flights started Friday and will run through April 27. Prince George, British Columbia. Wednesday and Saturday service started Saturday and will run through Nov. 26. Kelowna, British Columbia. Tuesday and Saturday flights started Friday and will run through April 28. London, Ontario. All Thursday and Sunday service will operate October 30 through April 26. | 12 SEPTEMBER 2011 | 11 SAM MORRIS