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WestJet Airlines Ltd. is taking a page out of now-defunct Jetsgo Corp.'s playbook by adding or expanding flights to U.S. leisure destinations.

The Calgary-based carrier said yesterday that it will be introducing scheduled service in September to Las Vegas and Fort Myers, Fla. Both those cities were part of the transborder market formerly served by Montreal-based Jetsgo, which grounded its fleet in March and declared bankruptcy in May.

WestJet is also expanding its existing service to Los Angeles and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., which were also on Jetsgo's route map. As part of the broadened schedule, the airline is increasing flights to Phoenix and Palm Springs, Calif.

WestJet is refocusing on what it does well, providing capacity in the low-cost sector for visiting friends and relatives and for travel to U.S. sunspot destinations, said Rick Erickson, an aviation consultant at RP Erickson & Associates.

Mr. Erickson said most of Jetsgo's U.S.-bound passengers travelled from Ontario and Quebec, so WestJet is going well beyond Jetsgo's former U.S. network. WestJet began its foray into the scheduled U.S. market last fall.

WestJet's coming fall schedule includes so-called city pairings such as Toronto-Fort Myers and Montreal-Fort Lauderdale, but also numerous western-focused flights such as Winnipeg-Los Angeles, Kelowna, B.C.-Las Vegas and Calgary-Fort Lauderdale.

Sean Durfy, WestJet executive vice-president of marketing and sales, said the carrier has improved its product by outfitting its fleet with leather seats and live satellite television screens on the back of each seat.

Travel frequency to the U.S. destinations will vary, but there will be two to six flights a week, depending on the route.

Rivals will include Alaska Airlines Inc. on the Vancouver-Palm Springs route, America West Airlines Inc. on the Calgary-Las Vegas flight and Air Canada on the Toronto-Phoenix and Vancouver-Las Vegas service.

As of June 22, Toronto passengers will be boarding at Pearson International Airport's Terminal 3 as WestJet switches over from Terminal 2. Mr. Durfy said Terminal 3 is more suitable for domestic, transborder and charter flights.

The move comes 14 months after WestJet shifted its eastern hub to Pearson from Hamilton's Munro International Airport.

Separately, CanJet Airlines announced it would cease operations from Hamilton next month.

WestJet also said yesterday that it's pulling out of Windsor, Ont. The withdrawal takes effect Oct. 30, ending service that began in April, 2003. Mr. Durfy cited weak demand in the Southern Ontario city for the decision. Flights between Calgary and London, Ont., will be increased after the cancellation of Windsor service.

WestJet, which began operations in 1996, is ordering another two Boeing 737-600 aircraft, with delivery scheduled for 2006, as it phases out older Boeing models.

The 119-seat Boeing 737-600 will allow WestJet to be nimble, targeting smaller centres amid competition from Montreal-based Air Canada, analysts say.

Courtesy Globe and Mail

July 6, 2005 - Virginia Beach Deals for Canadians

Aug. 15 to Sept. 1 is Canada Week in Virginia Beach, where visiting Canadians booking five nights at participating hotels will receive two additional nights free.

Participating hotels, some of which are commissionable to agents, can be found at Virginia Beach - Canada.

Canadians can also take advantage of the "Loonie Savers" program, Exclusively for Canadian travellers, the new Loonie Savers 2005 coupon website helps leverage the spending power of the Canadian currency against the U.S. dollar with a compilation of 63 money-saving offers that provide "two-for-one" and guaranteed 50% off vacation savings year-round. Come explore the state which boasts warm water beaches, championship golf, award-winning wineries, history tours, unique attractions, majestic mountains and scenic drives.. (Loonie Savers)

July 10, 2005 - Find best of Belfast in '05 visitors guide

The Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau has published the 2005 edition of the Belfast Visitor Guide. The full colour, 100-page plus brochure is a comprehensive guide to accommodation in Northern Ireland's capital city, with everything from four-star hotels to B&Bs and student accommodation.

It also provides detailed maps, access information and extensive contact details. The guide also provides an overview of places to eat and drink, superb theatres, entertainment venues, visitor attractions and a program of events and festivals.

The new guide also includes a special section especially for kids. (For copies: 1-800-223 6470; www.gotobelfast.com)

July 12, 2005 - Add Zip To Your Mexican vacation

An air flying Costa Rican innovation has arrived in the Caribbean-fronting Mexican state of Quintana Roo.

The Selvatura zipline adventure features 3.2 kilometres of ziplines, the above-ground cables that have participants slide from platform to platform, with the Mexican operation having thrill-seekers reach speeds of more than 50 kph at one point.

In all, Selvatura features 24 platforms linked by cables that range in length from 80 to 600 metres.

The operation is partly owned by a firm based in Costa Rica, where ziplines originated.

"This is something that in half a day will make your trip a huge experience," says Selvatura director general Guido Benassini, who describes the experience as "controlled adrenalin."

The attraction is found between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, and is 35 minutes from both tourist resorts. Selvatura will pick clients up in hotels in both of those communities.

Helmets, gloves and guides are supplied.

The six-hour day also includes a bike trip to a cenote, one of the below-ground water bodies found throughout the Yucatan Peninsula. Selvatura clients can swim in the cenote.

The US$59 cost of a Selvatura package includes the zipline experience, bike ride and cenote visit, a lunch and drinks.

Those wanting further information can access Selvatura or call Go See Mexico.com at 416-573-5847, or online at www.goseemexico.com.

July 19, 2005 - Sunquest Adds New Resorts to It's Western Winter Departures

Sunquest Vacations has just un-veiled its winter programs to the sun from western Canada with a roster of new hotels and resorts in the Mayan Riviera, Jamaica and Cabo San Lucas. Flights and packages are available for booking from Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, and Regina, and departures operate from November to June 2006.

The Barcelo Maya Tropical Beach Resort on Mexico's Mayan Peninsula will open its doors on Dec. 20, featuring deluxe amenities, optional wedding packages, a kid's club and many top restaurants. Pack-ages there start at $1,949. Also new on the Mayan beaches is the new RIU Palace Riviera Maya. This is set to open on Feb. 20, 2006, with prices starting at $2,299 per person.

New in Jamaica is the RIU Ocho Rios, which will open in November 2005, starting from $1,849 per person. Located close to Dunn's River Falls, the new RIU features 350 rooms in three categories and will house six restaurants. And the RIU Palace Cabo San Lucas is a five-star all-inclusive resort that opened in November 2004 and is now on the Sunquest roster. Prices for it start at $1,549. An early booking bonus of $200 per couple is available on all bookings made by Oct. 3.

Learn more about Sunquest on our Tour Operator page....

July 21, 2005 - Club Med's Punta Cana resort has a new teen lounge.

The Ramp allows those aged 14 to 17 to socialize with their peers in a place that's their own. The top-floor deck has a ramp for skateboarding and rollerblading beneath a fabric sail, along with a giant built-in hammock and two benches with telescopes.

Beneath the ramp is an open-air lounge designed with a teenage audience in mind. Lined with sofas, the lounge has a stainless steel, self-serve soda fountain bar featuring soft drinks and flavoured syrup shots, giving guests the opportunity to create their own concoctions.

Within the lounge, teens can play foosball at one of two tables, read magazines or play the jukebox, which will have a constantly up-dated selection of hits from around the world.

When checking in to the Club Med Punta Cana, each 14- to 17-year-old will receive a welcome packet, which includes a combination for a personal mailbox found at The Ramp.

Accompanying the welcome packet, each teen receives a bracelet granting him or her access to The Ramp, as well as tokens for The Ramp's photo booth.

Each mailbox has a clear front panel where teens can place pictures of themselves so that others can leave notes for their new friends.

The Club Med Punta Cana has 519 units, two restaurants, two bars and an open-air nightclub, two swimming pools, a tour desk and conference facilities, and available at an additional cost are laundry service, massages, Internet kiosk, car rentals, a boutique and photographer.

The property has evening entertainment, Latin dance classes, a salsa band, cooking demonstrations and a sunset hour with music by the water.

Scuba diving and a tennis camp are among other features, as are water aerobics, water sports, soccer, basketball, volleyball, fitness classes, archery and a flying trapeze. There are children's clubs for younger kids.

July 31, 2005 - Summer Skiing in South America

Canadians who still want to hit the slopes can schuss on trails in such popular ski resorts as Portillo, Chile, and Bariloche, Argentina. Chilean-based Sportstour offers programs in Chile, Argentina, Peru and Brazil, and has soft adventure programs, including mountain biking in the Andes, Inca Trail treks and rafting.

Among cities available from Sportstour are Santiago, Rio de Janeiro, Cusco and Buenos Aires. Easter Island is another Sportstour destination. Sportstour can also arrange for adventure seekers to climb Aconcagua, Argentina and South America's highest peak, and hike in Chile's dramatic Torres del Paine National Park, known for its rugged scenery.

For further information, you can visit Sportstour Chile.