WestJet confirmed Phoenix-Mesa as an international airport on 19 January when it commenced flights to the Arizona airport from Calgary, and then two days later it also connected Phoenix-Mesa with Edmonton

These are the US airport's only non-domestic scheduled services. The former of the two routes to Phoenix-Mesa will be flown three times weekly (Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays), while the latter will see a weekly (Saturdays) service. Flights on the 1,988-kilometre link from Calgary will be flown on a mixture of the airline's 737 fleet, while the 2,227-kilometre sector from Edmonton will be operated by the carrier's 737-800s.“Tourism is a vital part of our economy, and the Greater Phoenix area is home to hundreds of businesses that trade goods and services with Canada,” said Mesa Mayor John Giles, Chairman of the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Authority. “Having direct international services to Calgary and Edmonton opens the door for additional economic opportunities for the Valley. In addition, these new flights offer the community easy access to Alberta’s tourism industry including some of the best skiing in North America." Phoenix-Mesa becomes WestJet's second gateway to Phoenix, with the airline already offering 55 weekly flights to the city's Sky Harbor Airport from eight Canadian destinations, including Calgary and Edmonton. The airline also launched a new Canadian domestic connection this week. On 17 January it began a three times weekly (Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday) route between Hamilton (YHM) and Winnipeg (YWG). At 1,516 kilometres, and flown on WestJet's 737-700s, the airport pairing faces no incumbent.

aenna