Transwest Air has made a number of changes to its fee structure.
One of the biggest changes is, starting this week, the northern Saskatchewan airline will no longer be offering heavily discounted ticket prices to last minute travellers.
Customers will still be able to get up to 50 per cent off regular priced fares at the northern Saskatchewan carrier, but these tickets must now be purchased a minimum of 14 days in advance.
“The people who will be most affected are those who may have been booking at the last minute and getting a seat sale fare,” Transwest President and CEO Stephen Smith said. “To me, those are no longer discretionary travellers. Those are people who have to fly. And to have a seat sale at the last minute just makes no sense because it’s expensive for us to have that seat in inventory and available.”
Smith added that although the airline had been looking at some of the changes prior to COVID-19, there is no doubt the pandemic has sped up the process.
“There’s no question that every airline in the world has been impacted dramatically by the COVID situation pandemic and the lack of travel as a result. And Transwest Air and West Wind are no different.”
Other changes include, going forward, credit will no longer be offered for cancelled or unused tickets.
Passengers will still be able to purchase 25 per cent off fares provided they book at least seven days in advance.
Up until Sept. 12, 50 per cent off tickets can still be purchased with no advance notice for one-way travel.
After that, in order to get this discount, passengers will have to book round trip with required advanced notice.
There will also be a limited number of standby seats on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
The Northern Sky reward program and travel voucher and Simply Fly Credit have been cancelled.
Transwest Air is part of the West Wind Aviation group of companies which includes Northern Shield Helicopters and Snowbird Aviation Services.
(PHOTO: Courtesy Transwest Air Facebook page.)