Westjet will begin its non-stop service between Bermuda and Toronto on May 3, 2010, the low-cost carrier announced today. The move breaks a six decade Air Canada monopoly between the two destinations.

Tourism officials in Bermuda have publicly stated their hopes that more air carrier competition between their home and Canada would result in lower fares.  Westjet said today it will price introductory fares starting at $139 each way.

“For many years Air Canada has enjoyed a competitive-free environment resulting in often sold out flights and high airfares which both our visitors and locals had to endure,” said John Harvey head of the Bermuda Hotels Association. “The presence of WestJet will cause us to be more creative in the Canadian market and hopefully attract and capture new visitors from this important region.”

When low-cost carrier JetBlue entered the Bermuda market in 2006, other airlines serving the American northeast were forced to competitively lower their fares, making a Bermuda vacation more attractive to cost conscious travellers. Visitor numbers spiked. Bermuda tourism industry officials hope for the same outcome when WestJet arrives from Canada in May.

The Canadian airline will operate its Boeing 737 service every day of the week with a flight outbound from Toronto's Pearson International Airport at 10:20 a.m. and a return flight out of Bermuda at 3:00 p.m.

The WestJet 737 fleet can carry between 119 and 166 passengers at capacity.  Each aircraft is equipped with leather seats for passengers and live television.