Las Vegas (photo courtesy of WestJet)

By Pete McIntyre

WestJet

YLW celebrates direct flights from Kelowna to Vegas

Dec 15, 2023 | 6:00 AM

Kelowna International Airport will celebrate the return of WestJet’s direct flights between YLW and Las Vegas at an event on Friday (Dec. 15).

Airport CEO Sam Samaddar and WestJet’s director of Canadian Airports, Riccardo Simonelli, will discuss the new international route at an 11:30 a.m. news conference after the inaugural flight.

WestJet said the trans-border flight is making a return for the first time since 2020 and will be offered twice weekly.

YLW will be turned into Vegas for the day by bringing in a McLaren 720S Spider car, blackjack tables, a showgirl & magician, acro skits, marquee lighting, Vegas signage and swag/prizing for people travelling through the airport.

WestJet will operate flights to Vegas on Mondays and Fridays, offering more than 3,000 seats per month.

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WestJet has served Kelowna for 27 years and over that time has become the primary carrier at YLW, with 55 per cent of total seat capacity.

“We are thrilled to further our commitment to Kelowna with the return of popular service to Vegas,” said Simonelli said. “We know that this route will play a key role in stimulating leisure and business demand as we continue to provide our guests with even more affordable and accessible opportunities to escape the cold and find the sun this winter.”

With the addition of service to Vegas, WestJet will operate a total of two direct trans-border connections from Kelowna, with non-stop weekly service to Phoenix, Arizona.