WestJet has taken another step towards providing a regional airline service to smaller communities, as they unveiled the name for their new regional service: WestJet Encore.

“We are excited to launch WestJet Encore, leveraging the phenomenal strength of the WestJet brand delivered through our WestJetters,” said Bob Cummings, WestJet Executive Vice-President, Sales, Marketing and Guest Experience in a release. “Encore reinforces that our WestJetters are ready to repeat the success of WestJet, liberating Canadians in many communities from the high cost of travel.”

Expected to launch in the second half of 2013, the service will use Bombardier Q400 aircraft to service smaller communities across the country. One such possible community is Cranbrook and the Canadian Rockies International Airport (CRIA, and the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) has sent letters of support for the CRIA as their preferred destination for any regional service in the district.

WestJet say that they will announce a schedule for WestJet Encore sometime in early 2013.