WestJet reaches deal to fly Suncor employees to Northern Alberta oilsands operations

A WestJet plane at Vancouver International Airport in on Feb. 3, 2014.(The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck)

CALGARY -- WestJet (TSX:WJA) has reached a multi-year deal with Suncor Energy (TSX:SU) to fly employees and contractors to and from its oilsands operations in Northern Alberta beginning in early November.

The airline says the agreement will involve more than 100 weekly flights between Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Saskatoon, Kelowna, B.C., and Fort McMurray, Alta., and Suncor's operations in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, Alta.

WestJet's Suncor announcement follows news from the City of Brandon, Man., that the airline has decided to cancel its Brandon-to-Toronto route.

The city issued a news release saying WestJet offered a direct flight from the Wheat City to Toronto four days a week on a trial basis during the summer months.

In late July, the city says the airline announced it would offer year-round service between the two destinations starting in late October.

However, the city says WestJet recently told them bookings on the route were slow and the company made the decision to cancel the route altogether.