WestJet
| |||||||
Founded | June 27, 1994 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Commenced operations | February 29, 1996 | ||||||
Parent company | Onex Corporation | ||||||
Headquarters | Calgary, Alberta, Canada | ||||||
Key people | Alexis von Hoensbroech (President & CEO) | ||||||
Revenue | CAN$4.733 billion (2018) | ||||||
Operating income | CAN$155 million (2018) | ||||||
Net income | CAN$91 million (2018) | ||||||
Total assets | CAN$6.758 billion (2018) | ||||||
Total equity | CAN$2.302 billion (2018) | ||||||
Employees | 12,000 (January 2024)[7] | ||||||
Website | westjet.com |
WestJet Airlines Ltd. is a major Canadian airline[8] headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, near Calgary International Airport.[9] It is the second-largest airline based in Canada, behind Air Canada,[10] operating an average of 777[11] flights and carrying more than 66,130[12] passengers per day. In 2018, WestJet carried 25.49 million passengers,[13] making it the ninth-largest airline in North America by passengers carried.
WestJet was founded in 1994 and began operations in 1996. It began as a low-cost alternative to the country's competing major airlines.[14][15] WestJet provides scheduled and charter air service to more than 100 destinations in Canada, the United States, Europe, Asia, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.[16]
WestJet is owned by Kestrel Bidco Inc., a subsidiary of Onex Corporation.
WestJet has two direct subsidiaries:
In 2018, WestJet had passenger revenues of CAN$4.733 billion.[13]
History
1994–1999: First flights
Westjet was founded on June 27, 1994,[19] by Clive Beddoe, David Neeleman, Mark Hill, Tim Morgan, and Donald Bell. WestJet was based on the low-cost carrier business model pioneered by Southwest Airlines and Morris Air in the United States. Its original routes were all located in Western Canada, which gave the airline its name.
On February 29, 1996, the first WestJet flight (a Boeing 737-200) departed. Initially, the airline served Calgary, Edmonton, Kelowna, Vancouver and Winnipeg with a fleet of three used Boeing 737-200 aircraft and 225 employees. By the end of that same year, the company had added Regina, Saskatoon and Victoria to its network.
In mid-September 1996, WestJet's fleet was grounded due to a disagreement with Transport Canada over maintenance schedule requirements. The airline suspended all service for two weeks before resuming flights.[20]
In early 1999, Clive Beddoe stepped down as WestJet's CEO and was replaced by former Air Ontario executive Steve Smith. In July 1999, WestJet made its initial public offering of stock at 2.5 million shares, opening at $10 per share.[21] The same year, the cities of Thunder Bay, Grande Prairie, and Prince George were added to WestJet's route map.
In 2000, WestJet CEO Steve Smith was released from WestJet after 18 months in the position, apparently due to differences about management style;[22] Smith went on to head rival Air Canada's low-cost subsidiary Zip. After Smith's departure, Clive Beddoe again became CEO of the company, a position he held until July 2007.[23]
2000–2003: Domestic expansion
Due to restructuring in the Canadian airline industry resulting from
In 2001, WestJet's expansion continued with routes to Comox, along with Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Ontario, Thompson and Brandon, Manitoba; however, service to each of these four cities has since been withdrawn. Service to Brandon, Manitoba and Sudbury, Ontario,[24] was subsequently resumed by WestJet's wholly owned subsidiary, WestJet Encore.
In 2002, the airline also added another two new Eastern Canadian destinations: the Ontario cities of
WestJet entered into a two-year agreement with Air Transat in August 2003 whereby WestJet aircraft would be filled by Transat's two main tour operators, World of Vacations and Transat Holidays. These chartered flights operated largely to destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean and the planes were operated by WestJet crews. This agreement between WestJet and Air Transat was amicably terminated in February 2009.[25]
In 2004, rival airline Air Canada accused WestJet of industrial espionage and filed a civil suit against WestJet in Ontario Superior Court. Air Canada accused WestJet of accessing Air Canada confidential information via a private website in order to gain a business advantage.[26] On May 29, 2006, WestJet admitted to the charges leveled by Air Canada and agreed to pay C$5.5 million in legal and investigation fees to Air Canada and donate C$10 million to various children's charities in the names of Air Canada and WestJet.[27]
2004–2006: International expansion
In January 2004, WestJet announced that it was moving the focus of its Eastern operations from Hamilton to Toronto the following April, fully moving into the lucrative Toronto–Ottawa–Montreal triangle and tripling the total number of its flights out of Toronto Pearson International Airport.[28]
In 2004, a number of U.S. destinations were added or announced. These included
In late August 2005, WestJet flew to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, transporting members of a Vancouver-based urban search and rescue team to assist with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.[30]
After rumours and speculation surrounding the implementation of
WestJet's first scheduled service outside Canada and the United States began in 2006, to Nassau, Bahamas. This was considered a huge milestone within the company's long-term destination strategy and was a vital goal for future international market presence.
In September 2006, Sean Durfy took over as president of WestJet from founder Clive Beddoe.[31]
On October 26, 2006, WestJet announced that it had its best quarterly profit to date, of C$52.8 million.
2007–2009: Continued growth
In 2007, WestJet announced that it would begin flights from Deer Lake in Newfoundland, Saint John in New Brunswick and Kitchener-Waterloo in Ontario. In June 2007, WestJet added seven new international seasonal flights to Saint Lucia, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Mexico as well as a third Hawaiian destination, Kona.
The same year, WestJet commissioned the construction of a new six-story head office building, next to their existing hangar facility at the Calgary International Airport. The building was constructed following the
In May 2008, WestJet launched daily non-stop service to Quebec City. The next month, WestJet commenced seasonal service between Calgary and New York City via Newark Liberty International Airport. In May 2009, the airline launched new seasonal service to the cities of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories and Sydney, Nova Scotia; service to Yellowknife was later extended through the winter of 2009–10.
During the 2000s (decade), WestJet made significant gains in domestic market share against Air Canada. In 2000 it held only 7% to Air Canada's 77%, though by the end of 2009 WestJet had risen to 38%, against Air Canada's 55%.[34]
In late April 2009, WestJet temporarily suspended service to several of its destinations in Mexico due to the outbreak of influenza A (H1N1) in the country. The suspension of service to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta lasted from early May until mid-June, with seasonal service to Cancún being restored the following fall.[35]
In July 2009, WestJet announced 11 new international destinations for its winter schedule. These included expanded service to the United States, to
In November 2009, WestJet announced service to the British island territory of Bermuda, which commenced in May 2010.[36] WestJet also resumed seasonal service to Windsor, Ontario that same month.
2010–2016: Overseas expansion
In March 2010, Sean Durfy resigned from his position as WestJet's CEO, citing personal reasons.[37] He was replaced by Gregg Saretsky, a former executive at Canadian Airlines and Alaska Airlines and previously Vice-President of WestJet Vacations and Executive Vice-President of Operations.
In July 2010, WestJet announced service to Santa Clara, Cuba, New Orleans and Grand Cayman bringing the total number of destinations to 71. Service to New Orleans lasted only one season and did not return the next year.
In late 2010, WestJet announced it was wet-leasing a Boeing 757 aircraft to expand service between Calgary to Honolulu and Maui and Edmonton to Maui, on a seasonal basis.[38][39] Also that year, the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA), an independent administrative tribunal of the Government of Canada that regulates airlines, found WestJet's baggage policies to be unreasonable and/or contrary to the requirements of the Canada Transportation Act and/or the Air Transport Regulations on several different occasions.[40][41][42][43][44][45]
On January 26, 2011, after Air Canada terminated California service, WestJet announced plans to enter service to John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California from Vancouver and Calgary starting May of that year.[46]
In November 2011, WestJet won an auction for time slots at New York's
On November 15, 2013, WestJet announced their first destination in Europe. Seasonal service from St. John's, Newfoundland to Dublin, Ireland, would operate from June to October 2014.[49]
In January 2014, WestJet chartered an
On July 7, 2014, WestJet announced that it was in the "advanced stages of sourcing" four wide-body aircraft that would begin flying by the fall of 2015.[51] These would initially serve on the seasonal Alberta-Hawaii routes when WestJet's service agreement with Thomas Cook Airlines—who currently fly these routes on behalf of WestJet—expires in the spring of 2015. WestJet would take delivery of four Boeing 767-300ERs in summer 2015.[52] WestJet took delivery of the first of these aircraft on August 27, 2015.[53][54]
On June 16, 2015, WestJet announced the launch of service to London's Gatwick Airport on May 6, 2016. It is the carrier's third transatlantic destination after Dublin and Glasgow. The majority of flights to London use the wide-body Boeing 767-300ER aircraft.[55] On September 15, 2015, WestJet flights to London direct from Edmonton, St. John's, Vancouver, Winnipeg (seasonal) Calgary and Toronto (year-round) went on sale to the public.[56] During winter months, WestJet continued to serve the seasonal Edmonton - Maui, Calgary - Honolulu, and Calgary - Maui flights with the 767-300ER aircraft before their eventual retirement in 2020.
2017–2019: Transition to full-service carrier
In April 2017, WestJet announced plans to launch an ultra-low-cost carrier in late 2017.[57] The new airline would operate using Boeing 737-800 aircraft, and compete with new entrants to the market, such as Flair Airlines.[58] The launch of the new airline, named Swoop, was delayed until June 2018.[59]
While announcing an expansion of the senior leadership team on January 11, 2018, Gregg Saretsky reconfirmed the airline's strategic goal to become a global, full-service carrier.[60]
On March 8, 2018, the CEO of WestJet,
On May 8, 2018, WestJet announced that it would be adding the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to its fleet. The first aircraft was delivered to the airline in January 2019.[11]
On May 10, 2018, WestJet's unionized pilots voted 91 percent in favour of strike action. The key issue in negotiations is outsourcing work to operate the new Swoop carriers.[62] On May 25, 2018, WestJet and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) agreed to a settlement process through the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.[63]
On May 14, 2018, WestJet announced new
On May 31, 2018, WestJet operated its first flight to mainland Europe with the inaugural flight from Halifax Stanfield International Airport to Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport.[65]
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) announced its application to the Canadian Government for certification of WestJet's approximately 3,200 flight attendants on July 9, 2018. On July 31, 2018, the Government of Canada via the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) issued an interim order certifying CUPE as the accredited union for WestJet mainline flight attendants.[66][67]
On October 12, 2018, WestJet announced its new branding, along with details on the arrival on the
On May 13, 2019, WestJet announced it had reached an agreement to be purchased by Onex Corporation for $5 billion Canadian dollars. At the time, it had 13 Boeing 737 Max jets in suspended operation, with another 57 of the type ordered from the manufacturer. The purchase price of WestJet was slashed heavily due to the grounding of the MAX aircraft.[69]
2020–2022: COVID-19 pandemic
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic response required by world governments including Canada, WestJet faced an unprecedented decline in demand for flights along with the rest of the aviation industry. In addition, there were numerous cases of COVID-19 reported on board WestJet flights.[70]
In March 2020, WestJet suspended all international flights,[71] resulting in widespread workforce adjustments. Approximately half of the employees, totaling 6,900, were laid off on March 24.[72] Subsequently, on April 9, WestJet temporarily rehired 6,400 employees through the federal wage subsidy program (CEWS).[73] Additional layoffs followed, with approximately 8,000 employees between April and June,[74][75] as part of a restructuring plan, leaving only 4,500 employees on the payroll. Prior to the pandemic, WestJet employed over 14,000 individuals.[76] By February 2021, the company laid off an additional 250 staff members due to ongoing travel restrictions.[77] However, it's noteworthy that a majority of employees were successfully recalled by February 2022, reflecting the company's efforts in adapting to the challenging circumstances.
2022–present: Focus on Western Canada and strategic low-cost plan
On June 16, 2022, WestJet announced that it will be reaffirming the airline's commitment to "embracing its cost-conscious roots in service of affordable air travel for Canadians". With this in mind, the current CEO has announced that the airline will be returning to its low-cost roots, shifting its focus to western Canada, and investing in leisure routes.[78] This change resulted in numerous routes and destinations in eastern Canada to be dropped.[79][80]
On September 29, 2022, WestJet announced it had placed an order for an additional 42
In November 2023, WestJet added two new routes to their transatlantic service: Calgary Airport to Keflavik Airport and Halifax Stanfield Airport to Edinburgh Airport. Westjet also revealed plans to expand their Asia footprint by launching flights from Calgary International Airport to Incheon International Airport.
Acquisition of Sunwing
On March 2, 2022, the WestJet Group announced its intent to acquire Canadian sun-focused airline
On October 26, 2022, the Canadian Competition Bureau sent a letter to the
In the report, the Competition Bureau also raised concerns about the "monopoly" that the merger would create on 16 routes between Canada and Mexico or the Caribbean. However, in an emailed statement to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation which was sent on October 26, 2022 from Sunwing spokesperson Melanie Anne Filipp said that the routes which were identified by the Competition Bureau were "predominately" in Western Canada and accounted for a "very small portion of Sunwing's operations" - just over 10 percent - and were "primarily seasonal routes". As well, Filipp says that 6 out of 16 routes that the Competition Bureau had identified as a concern were no longer being operated by Sunwing. "We remain confident that this transaction is good news for Canadians."[86]
News outlets have also been quoting
On March 10, 2023, the Canadian federal government formally gave the approval to the WestJet Sunwing merger. "Today's decision was not taken lightly, especially in light of everything that happened over the holidays for those who flew with Sunwing,” Canadian Transport Minister
- Extending Sunwingvacation packages to five new Canadian cities
- Maintaining a vacations business head office in Toronto and a regional head office in Montreal for at least five years
- Improve regional connectivity and baggage handling
- Boost net employement at Sunwing's aforementioned Toronto head office
- Gradually ending its seasonal plane-leasing practice to protect jobs in Canada (refers to Sunwing's seasonal practices of leasing its Boeing 737 aircraft to airlines in Europe, such as TUI, whom it has leased its aircraft to during the summer season for several years now.)
On May 1, 2023, The WestJet Group completed its acquisition of Sunwing Vacations and Sunwing Airlines. Stephen Hunter, formerly the CEO of Sunwing Vacations, has been appointed CEO of the WestJet Group's Vacations Business, responsible for all tour operating and vacation package businesses of both the Sunwing Vacations and WestJet Vacations brands. The WestJet Group's newly combined tour operator businesses, comprising WestJet Vacations and Sunwing Vacations, will be headquartered in Toronto, Ontario and will continue to operate a Montreal office.
On June 17, 2023, WestJet confirmed it will wind down Sunwing Airlines, integrating the low-cost carrier into its mainline business within two years as part of a plan to streamline operations on an unknown date.[88]
On September 29, 2023, WestJet stated via an announcement that they aim to merge
Corporate affairs
Ownership and structure
WestJet Airlines Ltd. is operated by WestJet Group, a private company, incorporated and domiciled in Canada, which since December 2019 has been owned by Toronto-based private equity firm Onex Corporation.[91]
On May 13, 2019, WestJet had announced that it had accepted an offer from Onex Corporation to purchase the company, a $5-billion deal that would require shareholder approval (in July) and regulatory approval. The offer was for $31 a share, substantially higher than the closing price of approximately $18 at the close of trading on the previous business day.[92] Completion of the acquisition was announced on December 11, 2019, after the regulator had determined that WestJet will continue to meet Canadian ownership and control requirements if Onex amends its bylaws to ensure any matters voted on by the board of directors are done with a majority of Canadian directors present.
WestJet's shares were withdrawn from the market, having previously been publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol WJA.[93]
WestJet Encore
WestJet Encore is WestJet's affiliated regional airline, which commenced operations on June 24, 2013, with a fleet of
WestJet Link
WestJet Link is a subsidiary of WestJet launched in June 2018.[96] Operated by Pacific Coastal Airlines, WestJet Link service from the parent airline's hubs at Calgary and Vancouver to smaller communities, using Saab 340B aircraft which are smaller than the Q400 aircraft operated by Encore.[97]
Swoop
Swoop was an
WestJet Vacations
WestJet Vacations is a subsidiary of WestJet Airlines, one of Canada's major airlines. The vacation arm was established to provide customers with comprehensive travel packages, combining flights and accommodations to various destinations. The service was officially launched in June 2006,[100] allowing WestJet to extend its offerings beyond air travel and cater to the growing demand for all-inclusive vacation options.[101]
WestJet Vacations offers a range of travel packages, including flights, accommodations, and sometimes car rentals or other amenities. These packages are designed to provide customers with convenience and cost savings when planning their vacations. The destinations covered by WestJet Vacations span across popular tourist spots in Mexico, the Caribbean, the United States, and other locations.
The recently established Sunwing Vacations Group, part of the WestJet Group, comprises five prominent vacation and travel brands: Sunwing Vacations, WestJet Vacations, Vacation Express (a U.S. tour operator), and travel retailers SellOffVacations.com and Luxe Destination Weddings. This development follows the WestJet Group's acquisition of Sunwing, finalized in May 2023. Despite their integration, each brand under the Sunwing Vacations Group umbrella will maintain its unique identity, collectively representing the largest vacation brands in North America, as highlighted by Andrew Dawson, President of Tour Operations for Sunwing Vacations Group.[102]
Business trends
The key trends for the WestJet group (including WestJet Encore) are (years ending December 31):
2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Turnover (C$m) | 3,427 | 3,662 | 3,977 | 4,029 | 4,123 | 4,507 | 4,733 |
Net profit after tax (C$m) | 242 | 269 | 317 | 368 | 295 | 279 | 91 |
Number of employees (FTE at year end) | 7,742 | 8,000 | 8,698 | 9,211 | 9,988 | 11,089 | 11,624 |
Number of passengers (m) | 17.4 | 18.5 | 19.7 | 20.3 | 22.0 | 24.1 | 25.5 |
Passenger load factor (%) | 82.8 | 81.7 | 81.4 | 80.0 | 81.8 | 83.6 | 83.8 |
Number of aircraft (at year end) | 100 | 113 | 122 | 140 | 153 | 168 | 177 |
Notes/sources | [93] | [93] | [93] | [93] | [93] | [103] | [13] |
As of January 2023[update], Annual Accounts do not appear to have been published for the years 2019, 2020, 2021 or 2022. This is likely due to WestJet becoming a private company in 2019.
Destinations
WestJet and WestJet Encore currently fly to 108 destinations in 25 countries throughout North and Central America, the Caribbean and Europe including 36 cities in Canada and 23 in the United States. WestJet's largest hubs in terms of daily departures are Toronto Pearson International Airport, the airline's main connection point in Eastern Canada and Calgary International Airport, the airline's main connection point in Western Canada.
WestJet provides the most Canadian flights to
In July 2015, WestJet announced flights to
In January 2018, WestJet announced its first flight to mainland Europe. WestJet started flying between Halifax and Paris in May 2018. The airline in this route is being operated with its new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.[107]
In October 2018, new international destinations and routes were announced. Starting in 2019, WestJet began direct flights from Calgary to Dublin and Paris. WestJet is using its new
History
In 1999, WestJet was in talks regarding a possible 'feeder' arrangement for Air Canada's network.[163] These talks were apparently discontinued when Air Canada went forward with acquisition of Canadian Airlines the following year.
In 2005, WestJet began a limited interline agreement with Taiwan-based China Airlines, in part to test the company's capability to partner with other carriers.[164]
In 2006, WestJet announced it has been in talks with 70 airlines around the world interested in an interline or codeshare agreement.[165][166][167] In August 2006, in a Globe and Mail interview, then-WestJet CEO Sean Durfy stated that WestJet was in talks with Oneworld. Durfy said that, if a deal with Oneworld were reached, it would allow WestJet to maintain its scheduling flexibility;[168] Durfy was later quoted in 2007 saying that a deal for WestJet to join the Oneworld alliance was unlikely.[169] Despite this, WestJet did formalize a deal with Oneworld in November 2008, to partner on sales of travel to corporate and business travelers.[170]
In July 2008, WestJet announced it had signed a memorandum of understanding to build a distribution and codeshare agreement with U.S.-based Southwest Airlines. However, in April 2010 WestJet announced that the airline partnership with Southwest Airlines was terminated and in October 2010, WestJet partnered with American Airlines instead[171] and later added Delta Air Lines. In light of a possible joint venture between WestJet and Delta, American and WestJet ceased their codeshare agreement on July 31, 2018.[172][173]
In 2017, WestJet,
WestJet has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:[174]
- Aeroméxico
- Air France
- Air Transat[175]
- Azores Airlines
- Cathay Pacific
- China Airlines
- China Eastern Airlines
- China Southern Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- Emirates
- Hainan Airlines
- Hong Kong Airlines
- Japan Airlines
- KLM
- Korean Air
- LATAM Brasil
- LATAM Perú
- Philippine Airlines
- Qantas
- Virgin Atlantic[176]
- XiamenAir
Interline agreements
WestJet has interlining agreements with the following airlines:[174]
- Aer Lingus
- Air China
- Air New Zealand
- Air Tahiti Nui
- Alaska Airlines
- ITA Airways[177]
- American Airlines
- British Airways
- Canadian North
- Central Mountain Air
- Condor
- El Al
- Etihad Airways
- EVA Air
- Fiji Airways
- Finnair
- Icelandair
- LOT Polish Airlines
- Pacific Coastal Airlines
- Pakistan International Airlines[178]
- PAL Airlines
- Qatar Airways
- Royal Air Maroc
- TAP Air Portugal
- Tunisair
- Ukraine International Airlines
- United Airlines
- Virgin Australia
Joint venture with Delta Air Lines
On December 6, 2017, WestJet and Delta Air Lines signed a preliminary memorandum of understanding to extend their current codeshare agreement into a joint venture, pending regulatory and board approval.[179]
On July 19, 2018, WestJet and Delta Air Lines signed a definitive ten-year agreement into a joint venture between the two airlines.[180] This joint venture would have served more than 95% of the Canada–U.S. demand. The airlines' current frequent flier programs would also be updated to be more closely aligned, and the airlines will be co-located at key hub airports. However, in November 2020, Delta and WestJet agreed to scrap their plans for a joint venture, as the demands of the United States Department of Transportation were seen "unreasonable and unacceptable" by both airlines.[181] Delta and WestJet have, however, agreed to reciprocal elite member benefits for their respective frequent flier programs.[182]
Fleet
Current fleet
As of January 2024[update], WestJet operates an all-Boeing mainline fleet composed of the following aircraft:[5][183]
Aircraft | In service |
Orders | Passengers | Notes | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
J | W | Y | Total | ||||
Boeing 737-700
|
39 | — | — | 12 | 120 | 132 | |
Boeing 737-800
|
36 | — | — | 12 | 162 | 174 | |
10 | — | — | 189 | 189 | Former Swoop aircraft. | ||
Boeing 737 MAX 7
|
— | 32 | TBA | [184] | |||
Boeing 737 MAX 8
|
26 | 21 | — | 12 | 162 | 174 | 5 additional aircraft to be leased.[185] |
6 | — | — | — | 189 | 189 | Former Swoop aircraft.[184] | |
Boeing 737 MAX 10
|
— | 54 | — | 12 | 200 | 212 | Ordered with 22 options.[186][187] |
Boeing 787-9
|
7 | — | 16 | 28 | 276 | 320 | Remaining 2 orders cancelled.[188] |
WestJet Cargo fleet | |||||||
Boeing 737-800BCF
|
4 | — | Cargo | [189] | |||
Total: | 128 | 107 |
Fleet strategy
The mainline fleet currently consists exclusively of Boeing aircraft, while wholly owned subsidiary Encore flies
Boeing confirmed on August 2, 2007 that WestJet had placed an order for 23
In the winter season prior to acquiring their
In May 2014, CEO Gregg Saretsky announced that WestJet was considering acquiring
In late December 2016, 77% of WestJet pilots approved a new deal that will increase pay for pilots flying wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 767, Boeing 787 and Airbus A330. In a statement, the airline said that it was seeking more large aircraft with the intention of adding new destinations. Saretsky also stated that he hoped for wide-body growth to be responsible, but quick. As of May 2, 2017, WestJet announced the purchase of up to 20 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft; 10 were firm orders with deliveries from 2019 through 2021, and 10 were options for delivery between 2020 and 2024.[199][200] WestJet ended up only purchasing seven Boeing 787-9 and cancelled the remaining orders. It is believed that the cancelled Boeing 787 orders may have been converted to Boeing 737 MAX orders instead.[201]
Historical fleet
In early 2005, it was announced that the
On January 9, 2006, the last Boeing 737-200 was flown during a
In 2003 and 2004, WestJet donated two of its 737-200s to post-secondary schools in western Canada, one to the British Columbia Institute of Technology[203] and a second to the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology's Art Smith Aero Centre.[204]
In July 2020, WestJet retired their fleet of 4
WestJet operated in the past the following aircraft:
Aircraft | Total | Introduced | Retired | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Boeing 737-200
|
25 | 1996 | 2006 | |
Boeing 737-600
|
13 | 2006 | 2021 | Retired due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
Boeing 757-200
|
1 | 2011 | 2011 | Leased from North American Airlines |
7 | 2011 | 2015 | Wet-leased from Thomas Cook Airlines | |
Boeing 767-300ER
|
4 | 2015 | 2020 | Retired due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
Livery
WestJet's aircraft are painted white except for the lettering on the fuselage, wings and vertical stabilizer, except for special examples as noted below.
The tail is divided roughly into slanted thirds, coloured (from front to back) navy blue, white and teal. This pattern is used on the outside of the blended winglets at the end of the wings while, on the inside, the winglets are painted white with "WestJet.com" in dark blue lettering.
In February 2010 WestJet introduced a special livery on one Boeing 737-800 aircraft promoting its customer-service promise, or "Care-antee", in both English and French. This aircraft also featured a new tail design. In 2013, the Care-antee aircraft underwent a second livery change in partnership with Disney, featuring Mickey Mouse from the movie Fantasia and adopting the name "Magic Plane". A second Disney aircraft was completed in 2015, named "Frozen Plane", with characters Elsa and Anna on the vertical stabilizer and a similar theme in the cabin.[207]
In May 2018, WestJet unveiled a new livery, the first significant change since the inception of the company. It includes a new font for the word "WestJet"; written across the middle of the aircraft fuselage is "The Spirit of Canada" on the port side and "L'esprit du Canada" on the starboard side. An updated, stylized maple leaf on the aircraft tail is also included.[208]
On January 17, 2019, WestJet's first Dreamliner was delivered with the name 'Clive Beddoe', a tribute to one of its founder and former chairman of the board of directors. The aircraft is painted in its new livery.
Services
Cabins
Business Class
Business Class is offered only on Boeing 787 and offers private pods, with direct aisle access. The seats feature electronic flat beds in a 1-2-1 configuration. Complimentary on demand dining, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are included. On international flights, an amenity kit is provided. WestJet's business class is the only airline in Canada with fully extendable privacy screens.[209]
Premium Class
Premium Class is offered on all mainline aircraft. It varies depending on aircraft type.
On WestJet's 787, Premium Class is in a separate, dedicated cabin. Larger seats with greater recline are offered in a 2-3-2 configuration. Complimentary hot meals, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are included. A self-serve social area is also available. On international flights, an amenity kit is provided.
On WestJet's 737, Premium Class is separated from economy with sky dividers and curtain. Larger seats with greater recline are offered in a 2-2 configuration. Complimentary plated hot meals (select flights), alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are included.
Economy Class
Economy Class varies depending on aircraft type.
On WestJet's 787, economy seats have a pitch of 31" and are offered in a 3-3-3 configuration. Complimentary hot meals, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are included when flying internationally.
On WestJet's 737s, economy seats have a pitch of 31"–34" and are offered in a 3-3 configuration. Complimentary non-alcoholic beverages and snacks are included.[210]
In-flight services
In-flight entertainment
WestJet's 737 aircraft feature WestJet Connect, an in-flight entertainment system where passengers use their own mobile devices and laptops. The service includes free access to hundreds of TV shows and movies, paid access to the internet, and access to USB and 110 V power at every seat.[211]
WestJet's 787 aircraft features WestJet Connect and large touchscreen seatback monitors at every seat. The monitors include access to hundreds of TV shows and movies, music, magazines, and games like Angry Birds World Tour, and many more. Complimentary headphones are also included at every seat, with business and premium class offering noise-cancelling headphones and economy with standard earbuds. USB and 120 V power are also included at every seat.
WestJet Encore aircraft are not equipped with any in-flight entertainment.
In-flight food and beverage
On flights less than four hours, WestJet offers complimentary beverages and snacks. Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase.
On flights four hours and more, WestJet offers complimentary beverages and snacks, and a
Airport lounges
WestJet opened its flagship business lounge, Elevation Lounge, in 2020, at Calgary International Airport. Westjet has plans for future Elevation lounges at its other main hubs YVR Vancouver International Airport and YYZ Toronto Pearson International Airport. Westjet also has agreements with third-party service providers to provide pay-per-use access for customers, and free access to Gold and Platinum members.[212] These agreements include lounges in the following airports:
- Calgary (2) - Aspire Lounge (Transborder), Westjet Elevation Lounge (Domestic/Intl)
- Edmonton (2) - Plaza Premium Lounge (Domestic/Intl), Plaza Premium Lounge (Transborder)
- Kingston, Jamaica - Club Kingston
- London, UK (2) - My Lounge, No1 Lounge
- Montego Bay, Jamaica - Club MoBay
- Montreal- National Bank World MasterCard Lounge (Intl)
- Quebec City- V.I.P. Lounge
- Toronto (3) - Plaza Premium Lounge (Domestic), Plaza Premium Lounge (Intl), Plaza Premium Lounge (Transborder)
- Vancouver (4) - Plaza Premium Lounge (Domestic, Pier B), Plaza Premium Lounge (Domestic, Pier C), Plaza Premium Lounge (Transborder), Plaza Premium (Intl)
- Winnipeg - Plaza Premium Lounge (Domestic)
Accidents and incidents
- February 17, 2008 - WestJet Flight 849, a Boeing 737-700 (registration C-GLWS) flying from Calgary International Airport to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport had landed long on Runway 07 and overran approximately 100 feet in two (2) feet of snow. Tower activated the Crash alarm, and emergency vehicles were dispatched. No one was injured.[213]
- June 5, 2015 - WestJet Flight 588, a Boeing 737-600 (registration C-GWCT) flying from Montreal Trudeau International Airport during heavy rain. The aircraft was not damaged.[214]
- March 7, 2017 - WestJet Flight 2652 from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport to Princess Juliana International Airport descended too low until the ground warning system issued an alert in a heavy rain shower with low visibility. The crew initially lined up on a beachside hotel and mistook it for the runway. A go-around was executed and the plane was landed safely. [215][216]
- January 5, 2018 - WestJet Flight 2425, a Boeing 737-800 (registration C-FDMB) flight from Cancun to Toronto, was struck while parked and on approach to the gate by a Sunwing Airlines Boeing 737-800 (Registration C-FPRP) being towed at Toronto Pearson International Airport. A fire on the Sunwing aircraft's tail was put out by fire crews at the airport. 168 passengers and 6 crew were on board the WestJet aircraft and were evacuated but none were injured; the Sunwing aircraft had no passengers as it was being re-positioned.[217][218]
- January 5, 2020 - WestJet Flight 248, a Boeing 737-800 (registration C-FUJR) flight from Toronto to Halifax, overran the runway into grass while landing in Halifax during heavy snow. The aircraft was not damaged.[219]
- August 9, 2023 - WestJet Flight 346, a Boeing 737-700 (registration C-FWSI) flying from CC-130H Hercules while taxiing on the ground. None of the passengers or crew members were injured; The RCAF aircraft was unoccupied during the collision.[220]
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- ^ "TSB releases report on WestJet's missed approach close to water in St. Maarten". CTVNews. June 4, 2018. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
- ^ Arnone, Annie (January 5, 2018). "WestJet passengers evacuated after plane clips jet on Pearson tarmac". The Star. Retrieved January 5, 2018. Retrieved 2018-01-28.
- ^ Transportation Safety Board of Canada. "Aviation Investigation A18O0002". www.tsb.gc.ca. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
- ^ "Airline Incidents for aircraft registration C-FUJR". AeroInside. 2020. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
- ^ Habib, Abid (August 10, 2023). "WestJet Boeing 737 Collides With Royal Canadian Air Force Hercules". Simple Flying. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
External links
Media related to WestJet at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website
- WestJet Magazine, WestJet's inflight magazine Archived October 11, 2022, at the Wayback Machine