MYR's Kirk Lovell, Managing Director &
Pat Apone, Assistant Director of Airports; Kimberly Hartley of the Myrtle Beach Area CVB; David Powell, WestJet's General Manager at YYZ; and Darryl Horzelenberg of the GTAA
WestJet Vacations' Tim Croyle makes a quick speech
Tim Croyle, Pat Apone, Kimberly Hartley & Ian Woods of the GTAA perform the ribbon cutting ceremony
WestJetters prepare for boarding
Passengers on WestJet’s inaugural flight from YYZ-MYR were in for a real treat. The airline started its seasonal service on May 2nd to the golf and beach destination and marked the event with a 9-hole mini-put course – 3 holes were set up at check-in, the other 6 at the gate.
Although it was early morning, guests and WestJetters alike were cheery and excited to be involved with the milestone. The WestJet team put out a lovely spread of breakfast snacks and beverages by the gate, and passed around slices of celebratory cake. Who doesn’t love cake at 8:00 a.m.?
“With WestJet’s nonstop service and easy connections, we’re delighted to welcome you to our wonderful destination Myrtle Beach,” said Pat Apone, Assistant Director of Airports for MYR.
Ian Woods, GTAA’s Director of Aviation Business Development said, “Myrtle Beach is a popular destination for Canadians. This marks another success for WestJet and our airport and we look forward to many more celebrations over the years.”
WestJet’s MYR flights will operate twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays until October 24, 2013. WestJet Vacations currently offers 4 properties in Myrtle Beach and will add another 4 shortly. According to Tim Croyle, V.P. and General Manager of WestJet Vacations, the properties are a varied mix of hotels, condo-style accommodations and resorts that will cater to all travellers – golfers, non-golfers, families and couples.
The inaugural flight was completely sold out and the gate area was full of anticipating golfers and their families. So if that’s a sign for what the rest of the season holds, WestJet’s YYZ-MYR route looks like it’s going to be popular.
