WestJet Airlines said on Wednesday it had won eight takeoff and landing slots at New York's LaGuardia Airport, a boost for the carrier's plans to expand its service in the East.
WestJet, Canada's second biggest airline, is locked in a battle for passengers in Eastern Canada and into the United States with No. 1 carrier Air Canada and smaller privately-owned rival Porter Airlines.
Westjet is particularly keen to attract more business passengers, and a hub such as LaGuardia should broaden its appeal.
"Our growth plans, in which increased business travel in the East figures prominently, include New York City, Canada's largest international business market," WestJet chief executive Gregg Saretsky said in a statement.
Westjet won the slots in an auction held by the US Federal Aviation Authority. Two slot packages were available at LaGuardia and one at Washington's Ronald Reagan National airport.
WestJet did not say what it paid for the slots, nor did it reveal from which cities it will fly from to LaGuardia.
The Calgary-based airline previously flew from Toronto to LaGuardia but stopped the service after 10 months in July 2005. The flights were at midday and not hugely attractive to the business travel market, a spokesman said.