{"id":617792,"date":"2026-04-21T01:52:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T01:52:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/617792\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T01:52:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T01:52:16","slug":"westjet-cuts-flight-capacity-due-to-jet-fuel-costs-following-air-canadas-lead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/617792\/","title":{"rendered":"WestJet cuts flight capacity due to jet fuel costs, following Air Canada\u2019s lead"},"content":{"rendered":"

WestJet says it is cutting flight capacity as the war in Iran causes the price of aviation fuel<\/a> to soar.<\/p>\n

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The Calgary-based airline said it has reduced capacity by about one per cent in April, three per cent in May and nearly six per cent in June. Travellers affected by the changes are being provided alternate flight options, it said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs fuel prices continue to rise, WestJet<\/a> has adjusted some flying to align with demand and best manage associated fuel costs,\u201d the airline said in a news release.<\/p>\n

WestJet said it hasn\u2019t eliminated any routes so far, but it is \u201cevaluating its summer schedule\u201d with an eye to possible cuts.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Click<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t4:07
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAirlines adding fuel surcharge to flight bookings\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

It said it is in regular communication with its fuel suppliers and continues to monitor the global jet fuel supply situation.<\/p>\n

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For now, the carrier has consolidated flights on some routes and shortened the travel period for seasonal service to several destinations.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\"Get<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tGet weekly money news<\/p>\n

Get expert insights, Q&A on markets, housing, inflation, and personal finance information delivered to you every Saturday.<\/p>\n

Earlier this month, WestJet announced a temporary fuel surcharge of $60 on bookings made through WestJet Rewards companion vouchers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

WestJet did not say how long the temporary fuel surcharge will remain in place but told its customers it would be removed \u201conce jet fuel prices return to normal levels.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Sunwing Vacations and Vacances WestJet Qu\u00e9bec, it announced a fuel charge of $50 per person.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Click<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t0:36
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAir Canada suspends flights to JFK over high fuel prices tied to Iran war\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Air Canada announced last week it would suspend six routes, citing fuel costs that render them unprofitable.<\/p>\n

The move included routes to New York City\u2019s JFK airport from Toronto and Montreal between June 1 and Oct. 25.<\/p>\n

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Last week, Air Canada also announced higher baggage fees \u2014 to $45 from $35 for the first checked bag in its basic economy class on domestic, U.S. and sun destination flights.<\/p>\n

Fuel often marks airlines\u2019 highest cost. Air Canada spent more than $5.1 billion on it in 2024, amounting to 24 per cent of the carrier\u2019s operating costs \u2014 its largest expense.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2:07
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u2018My business would go elsewhere:\u2019 Toronto travelers react to Air Canada suspending routes amid fuel crisis\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran launched in late February caused an effective shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, prompting massive spikes in oil prices and even bigger jumps for jet fuel, which remains at double its pre-war price despite a shaky ceasefire.<\/p>\n

About one-fifth of the world\u2019s oil supply \u2014 20 million barrels per day \u2014 travels through the waterway between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula on its way to the open seas and then to global customers.<\/p>\n

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Jet fuel, diesel and gasoline all derive from crude, making them sensitive to any swerve in its price.<\/p>\n

In the month since the war began, energy and shipping experts have warned that an increase in energy costs would be passed on to consumers as major shortages were forecasted.<\/p>\n

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