WestJet leaves Lethbridge & Medicine Hat amid search for replacement carriers
Landon Hickok- 0
- 3 minutes read
WestJet has flown their final flights from Lethbridge and Medicine Hat on Wednesday morning, as both cities contend with how to bring commercial air service back.
Passengers arrived at YQL early Wednesday morning to catch the last departure flight to Calgary, some even flying exactly for that reason. Now, they’ll be waiting indefinitely for any future flights, if any airline is willing to take a chance on Lethbridge.
Both cities say they’re focused on attracting new airlines and passenger services, with the provincial government releasing an expression of interest for carriers who could provide regular services. WestJet notified each city its intent to suspend service back in February this year. For the city of Medicine Hat, they say they’ve already spoken with more than a dozen airlines.
Medicine Hat City Councilor and Chair for Development and Infrastructure Committee, Yusuf Mohammed, says “Our city has been working so hard to make sure that’s exactly what’s happening. Our airport has done some research and produce some market data to make sure that we maintain air service and connect with different carriers around our region.”
According to city data, the region generates over 700,000 air trips per year within 150 kilometres of Medicine Hat. A survey of 700 residents expressed that 94% of them value local air service. And in 2019, YXH served about 75,000 passengers, a number just over the city’s population, in a year within 50 weekly flights.
The Lethbridge airport expects it will remain busy with 98% of its flight activity not involving WestJet’s services. In 2025, there was an average of 100 daily flights involving charter and private aviation, cargo, medevac services, RCMP operations, flight training and agriculture and resource development flights. Across the Crowsnet, Medicine Hat airport is home to Halo air ambulance and also hosts a flight school.
The province’s expression of interest is accepting carrier submissions by early July, with the plan to underwrite airlines who agree to come and return passenger service back to southern Alberta.
