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Calgary WestJet service makes life easier for residents and businesses r ] i1he introduction of regular air service to Calgary is great news for residents and businesses across Waterloo Region. In January of this year, WestJet announced they would be providing daily seasonal nonâ€"stop flights between Calgary and the Region of Waterloo International Airport, the first national Canad}an airline to offer a service of this level. The first 737 jet from Calgary arrived in Breslau around 5:30 p.m. on May 14, and subsequently departed for the return trip approximately an hour later. The service has proven to be extremely popular. Since the inaugural fight, planes between Waterloo Region and Calgary have been flying on averâ€" age at 80 per cent of their capacity. This level of success has lead WestJet to revise their plans from a seasonal basis to a commitment for yearâ€"round flights. Our chamber was fortunate to host Bruce Graham, president and CEO of Calgary Economic Development and a former resident of Kitchener, at a speaking engagement on May 29. Graâ€" ham asked attendees to consider Calâ€" gary as not only a centre for the energy sector, but also an emerging location for technology, manufacturing and culâ€" tural industries. There are significant opportunities for local businesses to initiate and develop longâ€"term and successful relaâ€" tionships in Alberta, originating in large part from the WestJet service and improved access to growing western Canadian markets. Direct links lead to gr‘c;wluné;/ves;érB‘ For local residents, the new WestJet Direct links lead to service provides not only direct access mtanda _ "For local residents, the ii’; Graâ€" ieeca. _ Vides not only direct access e energy _ to Calgary but ‘hassieâ€"free‘ ‘angc... _ Connections to Vancouver, tunities K , * and Regina and Saskatoon." fast and effective business transactions and Graham suggested that Waterioo Region companies may want to conâ€" sider establishing sales offices in his city. to Calgary but "hassleâ€"free" connecâ€" tions to Vancouver, Kelowna, Victoria, Edmonton, Regina and Saskatoon. As the Region of Waterloo Internaâ€" tional Airport noted on a recent media release, their facility is easy to navigate, provides complimentary baggage carts, onâ€"site car rentals and is free of traffic jams and lost vehicles. f .: The presence of WestJet in Waterloo Region also provides improved prospects for expanded air service to other points in Canada, most notably permanent flights to Ottawa. Our chamber has been actively working with local governments and other community interests to ensure businesses are supported by an effecâ€" tive transportation infrastructure, including public transit, roads and competitive air service to important destinations across North America. WestJet‘s commitment to Waterloo Region and the commencement of relationships with Calgary, the corpoâ€" rate centre for the airline, also indiâ€" cates that our community is again recâ€" ognized as a centre of growth and ecoâ€" nomic opportunities. The local business community is very optimistic over the prospects that are emerging, and looks forward to a long and prosperous association with western Canada through WestJet servâ€" ice. Todd Letts is president and CEO and Art Sinclair is policy advisor for the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce. They can be reached at asinclair@greaterkwchamber.com. 125 Weber St. W. Kitchener | §19.579.3950 www.macdonaldawning.com Enter to win a fabuious _LL_IP Complete Collision and Refinishing Service Visit our large showroom for Residential & Commercial Awnings Broil King. Barâ€"Bâ€"Q *see store for details WATERLOO CHRONICLE * Wednesday, July 11, 2007 * 19 § Northdale Auto Body 519â€"884â€"0550 ,