SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - WestJet Airlines announced on Wednesday that it will fly passengers to and from Yellowknife all year round.

Robin Clark, station manager for WestJet is flanked by customer service agents Kate Palfrey, left, and Marisa McArthur. The WestJet employees were celebrating the announcement that the airline will be staying in Yellowknife. - Cara Loverock/NNSL photo

The company began offering flights between Yellowknife and Edmonton on May 4 – a service that was slated to end in October. Robert Palmer, manager of public relations for WestJet, said the response had been popular enough that the company decided to extend the service.

"The response has been really terrific," said Palmer.

He said WestJet has initiated partnerships with community organizations in Yellowknife, such as sponsoring the Yk City Quest, held last month.

The airline also had a "care crew" in town last May to perform random acts of kindness, such as paying for drivers' gas and offering free coffee.

"We had people stopping us and thanking us for coming into the market," said Palmer.

By staying in the market all year, he added, WestJet will be able to continue to help boost business and tourism in Yellowknife through more competitive fares.

"We understand that our competitors have some concerns. At the same time competition is healthy," said Palmer. When WestJet first announced it was moving into Yellowknife, other airlines accused the company of "cherry picking."

"We do not put our competitors out of business. Historically we have grown the market," said Palmer.

Mike Olson, director of sales for First Air, said the presence of four carriers – WestJet, Air Canada, Canadian North and First Air – fighting for "a small piece of the pie" creates a challenge for the smaller airlines.

"There's definitely an overcapacity on the market," said Olson, who noted the cheaper flights south could affect not only the airlines, but Yellowknife businesses that lose customers who choose to fly to Edmonton to shop.

"We're really grateful to have the support of the people of the North," Olson added. "That's who we fly for."

Representatives for Canadian North could not be reached by press time.