WestJet will offer second summer of direct flights from Sault to Calgary

Alberta is still part of Canada, apparently, and its relationship with Ontario may be strengthened by a second summer of seasonal direct flights between Sault Ste. Marie and Calgary.

This year, WestJet started offering non-stop summer service twice a week on a 737 from Sault Ste. Marie Airport to Calgary International Airport.

"It's going to be continued next year," Richard Jones, city marketing specialist for tourism and community development, told the October meeting of the Sault's tourism committee.

The meeting was advised that WestJet's website has already started offering direct service to Calgary beginning on Friday, June 11, 2027.

The flights will end on Friday, Sept. 10, 2027.

The airline's plans for direct seasonal flights between the Sault and Calgary were disclosed one day after Albertans formally rejected a proposal to begin a process toward independence from Canada.

In the Oct. 19 referendum, 1,556,316 Albertans said their province should remain part of Canada.

Just over half a million voters wanted Alberta to commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on separation from Canada.

"They e-mailed to me: 'I hope to see you on the flights next year,'" Jones told the city's tourism committee.

The city is now expected to develop a marketing plan aimed at attracting tourist traffic from Alberta to Sault Ste. Marie.

"Ideally, if they were continuing into the fall, any tourists coming from Asia, depending on their itinerary, could save a significant amount of time," said Travis Anderson, the city's director of tourism and community development.

-Soo Today 11-3-2026