Latest news with #NickHays
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Direct flight to Costa Rica incoming
Costa Rica will be a flight away from Winnipeg every week this winter. Beginning Dec. 19, WestJet will run a direct flight to the Central American country from the Manitoba capital. Service will continue every Friday until April 25, 2026. A one-way trip to Liberia, Costa Rica, for Dec. 19 started at $545, a Tuesday search elicited. The non-stop route was slated to last nearly 6 1/2 hours in the air. WestJet has never directly connected Winnipeg to Central America before. The route is part of the Alberta-based airliner's winter 2025-26 schedule. WestJet is also touting a nine per cent increase in its direct flights between Winnipeg and Cancun, Mexico — to 12 times weekly — and an 11 per cent increase between Winnipeg and Puerto Vallarta. The latter Mexican destination will be reachable from Winnipeg 10 times per week, WestJet announced. Direct flights to Cancun and Puerto Vallarta will begin Oct. 26. The pair join 21 other destinations with non-stop WestJet flights from Winnipeg this winter. WestJet has upped its sun destination flights from the Prairies city by 14 per cent, when comparing year over year, a company news release reads. The addition of a flight to Costa Rica, and expanded service to Mexico, shows WestJet's confidence in Winnipeg's market, said Winnipeg Airports Authority president Nick Hays. June breaks record for city home prices Residential detached homes and condos reached record-breaking prices for June in Winnipeg. The average residential detached home cost $473,131 last month — higher than any previous June, per the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board. An average condo clocked in at $291,647. In June 2024, the home types cost $437,367 and $273,303, respectively. Meanwhile, home sales in Winnipeg and surrounding regions continued to surpass last year's numbers while home listings lacked pace. The WRREB tracked 1,671 sales in June, up six per cent from the prior year. The stat, however, is three per cent below the five-year average (an average that includes record-shattering years sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic). Home listings were down 10 per cent from 2024, contributing to the current sellers' market. Buyers could choose from 3,716 active listings in June. Overall dollar volume of sales in June surpassed $707 million — a 14 per cent jump from June 2024. An average two-bedroom apartment rents for $1,769 in July, a new report by and Urbanation shows. The rent is a 3.8 per cent year-over-year decrease. One-bedroom apartment rent, at $1,450, was a marginal 0.5 per cent hike from the previous year. — Free Press staff
Cision Canada
07-07-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
WestJet unlocks more beach getaways from Winnipeg this winter with the announcement of new service to Liberia as part of winter 2025/2026 schedule Français
WINNIPEG, MB, July 7, 2025 /CNW/ - WestJet announced its winter 2025/2026 schedule, adding new non-stop service between Winnipeg and Liberia, Costa Rica, marking WestJet's first ever non-stop route from Winnipeg to Central America. Starting December 19, 2025, and operating once weekly, the route further enhances Winnipeg's connectivity to sought-after sun destinations and reaffirms WestJet's position as Manitoba's leisure travel champion and premier airline for sun vacations. WestJet will operate 23 non-stop routes from Winnipeg this winter, including to 15 destinations in Mexico, Latin America, Caribbean, and to US sun. Additionally, WestJet is adding more non-stop service to Cancun and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, increasing overall sun destination flying from Winnipeg by 14 per cent, compared to 2024. "I am pleased to announce that we will once again be expanding our extensive network of sun destinations from Winnipeg this winter," said John Weatherill, WestJet Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer. "WestJet's all new service between Winnipeg and Liberia reflects our commitment to offering more convenient options for guests seeking sun-filled escapes this winter. WestJet guests departing from Winnipeg have come to expect affordable, non-stop service to key destinations, and our winter 2025/2026 schedule delivers on both." *New frequency available July 14, 2025 Sunwing Vacations expands package options The WestJet Group continues to offer enhanced vacation packages through Sunwing Vacations Group's tour operating and retail brands, including WestJet Vacations. Vacation seekers can enjoy seamless, affordable holiday travel with the added benefit of WestJet's industry-leading hospitality by booking on or Additional quotes "We're thrilled to see WestJet continue to invest in Winnipeg's air service with the addition of Liberia, Costa Rica — a destination that offers Manitoba travellers even more opportunity to explore and unwind. This new route, along with expanded service to Cancun and Puerto Vallarta, highlights WestJet's confidence in our market and strengthens Winnipeg Richardson International Airport's role as a key hub connecting our community to the world." — Nick Hays, President & CEO, Winnipeg Airports Authority About WestJet WestJet took to the skies in 1996 with just over 200 employees and three aircraft operating service to five destinations. Since then, WestJet has pioneered low-cost travel in Canada, cutting airfares in half, and increasing the flying population in Canada by more than 50 per cent. Following integration with Sunwing in 2025, more than 14,000 WestJetters support nearly 200 aircraft and connect guests to more than 100 destinations across North America, Central America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia. As a major Canadian employer that includes WestJet Airlines, Sunwing Vacations Group and WestJet Cargo, the WestJet Group is Canada's leading low-cost airline and largest vacation provider, with a united purpose of providing affordable and accessible air and vacation travel to Canadians.
BBC News
21-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Manx firefighter takes on Parish Walk in full kit challenge
A Douglas firefighter is attempting an epic walking challenge on the Isle of Man, in his full emergency Hays is taking on the 85 mile (136km) Parish Walk to raise money for the Fire Fighters Charity and the Great North Air Ambulance full uniform, breathing apparatus, and helmet, added about 15kg (33 lbs) of weight to the challenge, which gave participants 24 hours to complete the would be the 37-year-old's first attempt at the event and he said: "I've definitely gone in at the deep end with this." While many do complete the walk that visits all 17 island parishes, the majority of those taking part set a target to reach the halfway point of Hays said: "I'm looking to ideally travel between hopefully Peel and maybe Ballaugh at the furthest, which will be about 30 to 40 miles." About 1,100 walkers are expected to take to Manx roads as part of the annual challenge. 'Mental resilience' It follows a similar challenge last year, when two of his colleagues took on the walk wearing firefighting helmets. But this year they wanted to "elevate it" and Mr Hays said he "voted myself in to do it" for the two it would be a big physical challenge, he said it would also test him mentally. He said: "Mental resilience is something that's quite big in the firefighting profession, just being able to kind of dig into what reserves you might have and just carry on with what's in front of you."Hopefully this proves that to the nth degree," he added. To train Mr Hays said as well as going for walks of about 15 miles at a time wearing weight belts, he had also been walking on an inclined treadmill with sand in his cylinder for added off at the National Sports Centre at 08:00 BST, competitors will cross the finish line in the gruelling challenge on Douglas Promenade on Saturday. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
