CALGARY– WestJet (WS) is withdrawing two US destinations as the Canadian airline continues to reshape its transborder network. The carrier has confirmed that it will not resume seasonal flights to Lihue Airport (LIH) on Hawaii’s island of Kauai, while its Calgary–John Wayne Airport (SNA) service to Orange County, California, is also scheduled to end in March 2027.
The changes affect routes that have connected Canadian travellers with popular leisure destinations for several years. WestJet’s withdrawal from Kauai ends a 16-year connection with the island, while the planned Orange County exit would remove another nonstop link between Canada and Southern California. These developments come as the airline reduces capacity on several US routes for the 2026–27 winter season.
WestJet Ends Kauai Flights
WestJet launched seasonal nonstop flights between Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and Lihue in December 2009. The service initially operated twice weekly, providing Canadian travellers with direct access to Kauai during the winter holiday season.
The Calgary-based carrier continued serving the Hawaiian island for approximately 16 years, although its schedule and frequency changed over time. It also briefly introduced a weekly Calgary–Lihue service during the 2021–22 winter season.
However, the airline operated its final scheduled flight to Kauai on April 12, 2026. WestJet has confirmed that the seasonal Vancouver service will not return for winter 2026–27, meaning the island will lose its remaining nonstop connection with Canada.
The airline will nevertheless maintain a substantial presence in Hawaii through three other destinations: Honolulu (HNL), Kahului (OGG) on Maui, and Kona (KOA) on the Big Island.
For the November 2026 schedule, WestJet plans daily Vancouver–Honolulu flights, alongside three weekly services from Calgary and up to one weekly flight from Edmonton. Its Maui network will include eight weekly flights from Vancouver, three from Calgary and one from Edmonton.
Kona will receive two weekly flights from both Vancouver and Calgary. These services allow WestJet to retain access to Hawaii despite removing Kauai from its network.
Orange County Route Ends
The second withdrawal concerns WestJet’s connection between Calgary International Airport (YYC) and John Wayne Airport in Orange County.
The airline originally introduced the Calgary–Orange County route in November 2021, initially offering two weekly flights before increasing the frequency to three.
The service subsequently became part of its California network, connecting Alberta with the Southern California region.
WestJet currently operates the route twice weekly, on Thursdays and Sundays, using Boeing 737 aircraft. However, the latest schedule information indicates that the service will end in late March 2027.
The route’s withdrawal would leave Air Canada as the only airline offering nonstop flights between Orange County and Canada, through its Vancouver service.
The change could also affect WestJet’s airport allocation at John Wayne Airport.
The facility operates under restrictions on average daily departures, limiting the number of flights airlines can schedule. WestJet had approximately 2.3 average daily departures allocated in the airport’s proposed 2027 schedule.
WestJet Cuts US Network
The two destination changes form part of a broader adjustment to WestJet’s US network. The airline has already removed several routes from its winter schedule, including services connecting Vancouver with Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles and Orlando.
Other affected services include Calgary–Chicago O’Hare and flights from Regina and Saskatoon to Las Vegas.
WestJet has attributed previous seasonal reductions to insufficient demand and the need to deploy aircraft on more sustainable routes.
Despite these cuts, the US remains an important international market for the airline. WestJet has scheduled approximately 6,325 US-bound flights during winter 2026–27, representing more than one million seats.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is expected to remain its busiest US destination, with more than 1,000 scheduled flights. Its capacity to Phoenix is also projected to increase by approximately 27.5% compared with the previous winter.
The network changes therefore reflect a selective redistribution of capacity rather than a complete retreat from the US market.
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