NextJet leaves Region of Waterloo International Airport after just one week of service

CTV Kitchener: NextJet leaving NextJet failed to take off in Waterloo Region. The low-cost carrier will no longer service the area. Alexandra Pinto reports.

Passengers have fewer options when it comes to flying from Waterloo Region.

Low-cost air carrier NextJet is exiting the Region of Waterloo International Airport after just one week of operation.

NextJet began serving the region on May 30 with flights to and from Breslau, Peterborough, Gatineau/Ottawa and Montreal.

The airline promised lower airfares and operated as a private charter service, with passengers boarding small, nine-seater planes.

Just over one week later, the airline suspended operations for the summer and hasn't come forward with any plans to resume service.

The airport has been looking to attract new business for quite some time.

Airport General Manager Chris Wood believes that in time another carrier will be found to operate out of the region.

“I am confident that a carrier will soon serve our community with service to Ottawa as well as other cities. ‎The opportunity is too great to ignore. It is just a matter of finding the right company to provide safe, efficient and frequent enough service to compete with the other carriers at surrounding airports,” Wood said.

Back in June officials with NewLeaf Airlines, another low-cost carrier, visited the region. So far the company has no plans to operate here.

NextJet is not the only airline leaving Waterloo Region.

The last American Airlines flights to and from Chicago will take-off on October 5.

With reporting by Daryl Morris.