WestJet, Canada’s second-biggest airline, recently canceled all flights to a US city, TheStreet reported. This move is part of several recent changes WestJet has made to its US network. Earlier, the Onex Corporation-owned airline cut service to major US destinations, including Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).
In a recent cut, WestJet confirmed it has canceled all flights between Vancouver International (YVR) and Lihue Airport (LIH) on Kauai. The decision comes as a major shock, as the route regularly returned during sun-seeking months since it began operations in 2009. The route last remained operational on April 12.
While WestJet confirmed the route won’t be operational, it did not give an official reason for the cut. However, an earlier statement by WestJet’s media relations advisor may point to why the airline cut all flights to Lihue Airport. Media relations advisor Julia Kaiser said:
We saw a notable decline in transborder travel demand throughout 2025… As a result, we made timely decisions to modify our network to stay aligned with where Canadians want to go.
Along with WestJet, Canada’s biggest airline, Air Canada, has also cut several flights to the US.
WestJet CEO recently warned Canadians about potential rise in airfares
WestJet travelers could face higher ticket costs after the airline’s CEO, Alexis von Hoensbroech, warned of a potential fare hike, CTV News reported. According to Von Hoensbroech, rising fuel costs may leave the airline with no choice but to increase ticket prices.
Von Hoensbroech made this statement during a Calgary Chamber of Commerce event. The CEO revealed that WestJet faced an additional $1.6 billion in annual fuel costs. Von Hoensbroech said:
And what people will have to expect that the airlines will eventually have to recover the cost of fuel through ticket price. There’s no other way. You either recover your cost of doing business, or you’re out of business.
Von Hoensbroech is not the only airline CEO to make such a comment. Recently, IndiGo Airlines CEO Willie Walsh also hinted at raising ticket prices because of fuel costs. Walsh mentioned the Indian carrier has “no choice” but to consider taking such a step.
