More WestJet flights from Kelowna to Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Seattle and Winnipeg

Fall and winter aren't even over yet and WestJet is already thinking of summer.

The airline released its 2025 summer route schedule today and it includes more flight frequency and more passenger seats in and out of Kelowna International Airport.

For instance, daily flights between Kelowna and Seattle that will start Jan. 17, 2025 will be year-round.

The most frequent city pair will be Kelowna-Calgary with 60 flights weekly, which works out to 8 or 9 flights each and every day.

Kelowna-Vancouver will have 35 flights weekly or 5 daily and Kelowna-Edmonton 28 times weekly or 4 daily.

Summer seasonal service between Kelowna and Winnipeg returns May 16, 2025 to Oct. 24, 2025 with 3 flights weekly.

In summer 2025, WestJet will operate up to 151 weekly flights in and out of Kelowna airport to 9 domestic and US destinations -- Vancouver, Victoria, Seattle, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon and Toronto.

It all equates to 15% growth in seat capacity and 24% increase in flight frequency.

WestJet flies two types of aircraft in and out of Kelowna -- various versions of the Boeing 737 jet with anywhere from 132 to 189 seats and the De Havilland Q400 turbo-propeller plane with 78 seats.

"As Kelowna's leading air carrier, WestJet is proud to be expanding the Okanagan's non-stop connectivity to domestic and transborder destinations this summer," said director of alliances and airport affairs Jared Mikoch-Gerke.

"As a crucial component of our strategy, we remain steadfast in our commitment to the West and providing more affordability, reliability and choice to our guests."

Mikoch-Gerke's remark "Kelowna's leading air carrier" is in reference to WestJet flying more flights and passengers in and out of Kelowna airport than any other airline.

Air Canada, Pacific Coastal, Alaska, Central Mountain, Sunwing, Air North and Flair also fly in and out of Kelowna airport.

"We value the impact WestJet is having on Kelowna International Airport's continued soaring growth in both passenger numbers and flights," said Geoff Richie, acting CEO at Kelowna airport.

"This expanded summer service is a 24% increase in flight frequency and builds on the growth in service already planned for the upcoming winter season."

Speaking of the winter season, WestJet is flying non-stop to sun destinations Phoenix, Las Vegas, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos and Mazatlan; Sunwing has flights to Cancun and Mazatlan; and Alaska Airlines will start daily flights to Los Angeles.

"WestJet is showing the world that Kelowna is a destination of choice for both business and play and that for our regional residents, Kelowna International Airport is your link to a range of North American and international destinations," continued Richie.

"YLW is foundational to our regional labour market, our tourist economy and the diversification of industries and businesses that operate in and through the Kelowna area. We want to thank WestJet for its continued investment in our region."