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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The skies over Yellowknife got a little busier Monday as new kid on the block WestJet began its seasonal service between the capital city and Edmonton.

The carrier's first flight to Yellowknife was about half full.

A WestJet 737 arrives in Yellowknife on Tuesday afternoon. The Calgary-based carrier began seasonal service between Yellowknife and Edmonton on Monday, and will operate daily flights between the cities until Oct. 31. - Herb Mathisen/NNSL photo

"That's not unusual for the inaugural flight for a new route," said WestJet spokesperson Robert Palmer, who is pleased with the reception the company has gotten thus far in Yellowknife.

"People are, I think, aware of the fact that we have come to the market, but I am not sure if they are aware of our schedule and fares," he said.

The Calgary-based company will offer daily jet service between Yellowknife and Edmonton until Oct. 31.

Palmer said WestJet will mainly use its Boeing 737-700s – a 136-seat jet – for the route. Steve Loutitt, Yellowknife airport manager, said while the airport was busier than normal Monday, WestJet's first day went off without a hitch. He said adding the carrier will not congest departure gates or apron space on the tarmac.

"It's within the airport's capacity," he said. "The time that they are using the airport is a fairly quiet time." WestJet flies in and out of the city around lunch hour.

The airline announced its launch of a seasonal service to Yellowknife in December, fuelling a price war among companies that operate the route. Following the announcement, Canadian North president Tracy Medve said the southern company was "cherry-picking" routes, stating WestJet would erode Northern companies' passenger bases on the Yellowknife-Edmonton route, while they still kept operating many less-profitable routes to smaller destinations. On Tuesday, Medve said she didn't know what the long-term impacts of WestJet's arrival will be.

"It's a bit early to say, but I don't know if you have watched, the prices have fallen," she said.

Medve said anyone can now get a seat with any carrier between Yellowknife and Edmonton for $75.

She said airlines have had to slash prices to compete with WestJet – which Medve acknowledged "somewhat led the market to these low levels" – because flights aren't full.

Medve said she didn't know how long the low rates will stay.

"It's all driven by how many people are on-board the aircrafts," she said.

She said WestJet is adding more than 100 seats every day to the route, which is already being well-served by three carriers.

"There's no question there are too many seats in the market," she said.

She said Northern carriers have maintained service levels – namely the in-flight meal – while lowering fares.

"I hope nobody believes that you can actually provide an air service for $75 a seat," said Medve. "Not even WestJet can do that."

Palmer said the future of WestJet in the North will depend on how many customers choose them, adding the company always enters a market on a seasonal basis at first.

"The reason for that is we need to ensure that the demand is there. Specifically that it is there over the long haul," he said.

"From Yellowknife's perspective, if Yellowknifers like the service and they use it a lot, there is a good chance it will be back next year," he said, adding the demand will also determine whether service will be offered seasonally or on a permanent basis.

Medve said not all carriers operate like that. "While it may be irritating to the community, they have demonstrated that if they don't like the economics, they don't stick around," she said.

While some commuters who flew in on WestJet Tuesday said the personal television sets were a plus, one traveller said the service was not on par with Northern carriers.

"I'd rather support Northern airlines, but I had a credit," said the woman, declining to provide her name.

Adrian Burns makes about eight round-trips between Yellowknife and Edmonton a year for work. He's flown with all carriers, with his company paying his tickets.

"I think the company will go with the lower fares," he said. "That's understandable."