THUNDER BAY — More changes are coming this year to airline service in Thunder Bay.
Travellers bound for Western Canada will have a lot more options from WestJet this summer, but direct flights to Toronto on WestJet will be eliminated as of April 30.
The airline's revamped schedule, released Monday, includes almost double the number of flights it offered last year, increasing to 13 flights per week to Winnipeg from only seven that it offered during the peak summer travel period last year.
However, starting at the beginning of May, passengers wishing to fly WestJet between Thunder Bay and Toronto will not be able to do so directly, and will have to travel to Winnipeg first.
The airline told TBnewswatch the suspension of this service is "permanent."
In a statement, it said "We understand this is disappointing news for our guests and the community, and we sincerely apologize for the impact this may have."
Customers who have already booked travel to or from Toronto after April 30 are being offered refunds.
WestJet signalled last year that it was transitioning from flying within Eastern Canada to focus on non-stop connections to Western Canada and to sun and leisure destinations.
The company recently announced the return of non-stop flights between Thunder Bay and Calgary starting at the end of June.
Air Canada, Porter Airlines and Flair Airlines continue to provide direct service to Toronto.
Porter will also inaugurate direct flights between Thunder Bay and Ottawa later this month
Flair Airlines was scheduled to begin service on the same route in June, but it has now cancelled that plan.
NOTE: A previous version of this story was updated on March 14 after Flair Airlines revealed it had abandoned plans to provide flights between Thunder Bay and Ottawa
