WestJet adds fuel surcharge, reduces flights as impact of Middle East war settles in

The impact of the war in the Middle East is being felt as WestJet announced it’s introducing a temporary fuel surcharge for bookings made with companion vouchers.

Starting April 8, the Calgary-based airline is adding a temporary fuel surcharge of $60 “on “all bookings made with a companion voucher. This will be reflected in the ‘Other ATC’ portion of companion voucher bookings, and we will continue to assess the surcharge and adjust as conditions allow,” an airline spokesperson said in an email to CTV News.

The airline is also reducing flights throughout April and May.

“Fuel prices continue to rise, and as a result we have adjusted our flying to align with demand and best manage associated fuel costs,” they said. “This includes consolidating flights on lower demand routes and adjusting the travel period for seasonal offerings.

“We have reduced capacity by approximately one per cent in April and three per cent in May. Most guests impacted by these changes have been provided reaccommodation options within the same day as their original departure.”

They said the numbers boiled down to 406 fewer April flights -- about 1.5 per cent -- and approximately 1,000 May flights (around 3-4 per cent).

The airline said it has not made any ‘organizational changes’ or layoffs as a result of the rise in fuel prices.

When asked if there would be a fuel surcharge added to regular fares, the airline said, “Airfares reflect current operating costs and typically fluctuate based on market supply and demand. Fuel prices have continued to rise, and fares have adjusted accordingly.”