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“Calgary isn’t the biggest airport … but it’s strategically, critically important for WestJet,” Sims said. “It is our home, it is our base.”

Sims said upping the number of flights to business destinations and other WestJet hubs, like Vancouver and Toronto, gives business travellers more options.

“What you are going to see is increasing the frequency and reliability of those services to tried and trusted destinations,” he said.

“The fact that we’re now flying effectively 16 times a day from Calgary to Vancouver, every hour on the hour, gives people that kind of reliability of service … you always know you’ve got another flight behind you as back up. And that reliability of service is a critical point of advantage for our premium travellers.”

The company also announced two new international flights, adding non-stop service from its Halifax hub to Paris and London. Sims said a partnership with Air France will allow customers to redeem WestJet Dollars for Air France flights around Europe.

Overnight, daily direct flights to Charles de Gaulle Airport will begin on May 31, with similar flights to London’s Gatwick Airport starting on April 29.

Both routes will be aboard WestJet’s 737-8 MAX aircraft. Tickets are already available for bookings, with introductory fares starting at $199 inclusive of taxes.

WestJet ordered 10 long-haul Dreamliners last year and is expecting to receive the first in 2019. The remaining nine will be delivered through the end of 2021, and the company has the option to buy 10 more of the fuel-efficient planes to be delivered between 2020 and 2024.