(Image Credit: File Photo/CHAT News)

By Jesse Gill, Jett Schwaier

Air Service (Updated)

VIDEO: WestJet to cancel flight service with Calgary for Medicine Hat and Lethbridge

Feb 24, 2026 | 7:15 AM

WestJet has issued a public notice proposing to discontinue its year-round non-stop scheduled air service between the Calgary airport and airports in both Medicine Hat and Lethbridge.

The final day of service for both routes is June 24.

A representative from WestJet has confirmed that the WestJet Encore service won’t continue after that date.

“The decision to end air service is never taken lightly, and we understand this is disappointing news for the two communities and apologize for the impact this may have,” Media Relations advisor Julia Kaiser said.

“The WestJet Group has served these routes for several years, and despite efforts to support viability, demand for the services has been insufficient,” she added.

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“Guests holding reservations for June 25, 2026, and beyond are being notified of their options for a refund.”

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City of Medicine Hat Councillor and current Deputy Mayor, Chris Hellman said the discontinuation was surprising, and Medicine Hat and Lethbridge will see an impact.

“Whether that’s for business or for pleasure, there’s going to be an impact there; the impact is obviously on the traveller,” Hellman said.

Hellman said losing the air service with WestJet in the Southeast portion of Alberta can be looked at in two ways.

“You can look at it as problematic in the sense that this portion of the province is at risk of losing commercial air service to Calgary. You can look at an opportunity there,” Hellman said

“That makes the potential customer base that much more attractive for another air carrier to come in and scoop up both markets,” he added.

“Adding Lethbridge to that basket of opportunity for an air carrier, along with Medicine Hat, is an advantage.”

Logan Boyd, Manager of the Medicine Hat Regional Airport, said air service is extremely important, but is just one component of the airport.

Boyd said the impact will be felt mainly in terminal operations and passenger traffic, as WestJet accounts for about two percent of the airport’s roughly 37,000 annual aircraft movements, while flight training and medevac services are expected to continue largely unchanged.

“We’re still assessing things on kind of what that looks like,” Boyd said.

“The air service is really important in terms of our commercial program; it is going to go into a pivot to focus on those attraction activities, but it is just one component of the airport.”

A resident of Medicine Hat who has used the airport several times in the past said it’s not good news for people, but “business is business.”