CALGARY — WestJet has announced brand new nonstop service between Calgary and Nashville and the reintroduction of its Halifax-Gander route as part of its busy summer schedule.

Service between Calgary International Airport (YYC) and Nashville International Airport (BNA) begins on May 4 and runs twice weekly. With the launch, WestJet will become the first Canadian carrier to offer nonstop service between the two destinations.

The airline began service to Nashville from Toronto last year and currently flies six times weekly on WestJet Encore. Flights from Calgary to Nashville will be operated on Boeing 737 aircraft.

“WestJet continues to boost our flight network out of our Calgary hub,” said Brian Znotins, WestJet Vice-President Network Planning, Alliances and Corporate Development. “Just as the route out of Toronto has been embraced, we expect that Western Canadians will be thrilled to have the only nonstop access from Calgary to one of the most popular and happening cities in the U.S.”

As part of its 2017 summer schedule, which was announced on the same day as the new Nashville route, the airline also revealed it will once again fly its route from Halifax to Gander, Newfoundland. The year-round service starts daily on April 30, with one-way fares starting at $164.59.

“A convenient afternoon departure will provide travellers access to Halifax and connections to WestJet’s robust network beyond, without the early morning rise,” said Reg Wright, President and CEO, Gander International Airport Authority. “Passengers have clearly told us they wanted more afternoon departures, so this is welcome news for Central Newfoundland residents.”

WestJet’s 2017 summer schedule also includes new nonstop additional flights from Toronto to Orlando, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Montreal and Moncton, as well as four new weekly flights between Vancouver and Hamilton and the addition of a daily flight to San Francisco. Service from Calgary will increase with six additional weekly flights to Toronto, and a once-daily flight to both Winnipeg and Regina will be added. Service from Edmonton to Kelowna will increase by 12 weekly flights and by one additional weekly flight to Las Vegas, while service from Kelowna to Winnipeg will increase by one weekly flight for a total of four times weekly. Lastly, existing winter service has been extended through the summer, including six daily flights between Vancouver and Kelowna, and five daily flights from Vancouver to Prince George.

For more information go to westjet.com.