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19th October 2018

WestJet will use brand new Boeing Dreamliners for London—Calgary service

WestJet recently announced it will take in a number of brand new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft early next year, which it will use to operate its new direct service between London and Calgary, starting on 29th April 2019.  The London—Calgary service will fly between London Gatwick Airport (LGW) Calgary International Airport (YYC) once a day from Spring next year and will be the first ever service that the new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners are used to operate.

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners themselves are said to be very impressive aircraft. Each aircraft has the capacity to carry 320 passengers, with three different cabin classes on offer — Economy, Premium and Business.

Economy onboard the 787-9 Dreamliner offers in-flight entertainment and sockets that passengers can use to charge their electronic devices. 

Premium Class has everything that Economy has, plus larger seats and more space. Passengers flying in Premium can also enjoy unlimited complimentary snacks and drinks, which passengers can serve their self in the social area.

In Business, each passenger has their own private pod, with seats that fold out into beds. Passengers in WestJet Business are also given an individual touchscreen service in which they can order food and drinks at any time.

28th June 2018

WestJet Airlines stock set to improve if the price of oil falls

WestJet may have hit a low in the stock market yesterday, but there is still a shroud of optimism in the air for the investors of Canada's second largest airline. Higher fuel costs have contributed to WestJet's obstacles to battle their way up the marketplace of late, but all that may be about to change. Meanwhile, the company has high hopes. Not only is it pressing on with major expansion plans by increasing its intercontinental travel, it also has its sights set on launching a new discount carrier. Swoop has got off to a great start so far, so it will be interesting to see how this affects WestJet's future.

23rd May 2018

WestJet Airlines and pilots resume contract negotiations in Calgary

WestJet Airlines Ltd. has resumed contract negotiations with its pilots in Calgary, where the airline is based.

Talks between the airline and pilots represented by the Air Line Pilots Association began Monday and moved from Halifax, where they took place last week, the airline said in an email.

Neither side would say if progress has been made.

The pilots were legally able to launch a strike last Saturday, but committed not to disrupt passenger travel plans over the Victoria Day long weekend as a goodwill gesture.

The union hasn't issued a replacement date for a possible strike while talks continue.

"We have not received any notification of labour action and remain actively engaged in negotiations, which began again yesterday in Calgary," spokeswoman Lauren Stewart said Tuesday.

The union tweeted a similar desire to reach the pilots' first collective agreement.

"We are committed to reaching an agreement with management and will be at the bargaining table this week," it said.

The ALPA represents about 1,500 pilots at WestJet's main service.

WestJet has said its bargaining team is focused on getting a "sustainable agreement that benefits our pilots, WestJetters and the company as a whole."

The airline has promised to refund tickets if flights are cancelled in the event of a strike.

WestJet has said that its bookings have slowed since the union said it would seek a strike mandate, which was supported by 91 per cent of its members.

The company warned earlier this month that its revenue per available seat mile will be flat- to negative two per cent this quarter due in part to the possible pilot strike.

Chris Murray of AltaCorp Capital said Tuesday that improving market conditions in Alberta should help WestJet, however the Calgary carrier is facing "a number of near-term labour and cost issues."

The labour strife comes ahead of WestJet's planned launch of its Swoop ultra-low cost carrier, which has been a source of contention between pilots and the company.

Earlier this year, the union won a Canada Industrial Relations Board challenge to the company's proposed policy to offer pilots a two-year leave of absence if they go to fly for Swoop.

The ALPA complained that the policy was a significant change in the company's terms of employment and an interference with the union's right to represent the pilots.

Companies in this story: (TSX:WJA, TSX:AC)

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version said ALPA represents 500 Encore pilots.

18th May 2018

WestJet sign agreement with Pacific Coastal Airlines

WestJet have signed a capacity purchase agreement (CPA) with Pacific Coastal Airlines, connecting more routes such as Cranbrook, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Lloydminster and Prince George to WestJet's Hub at Calgary.

1st February 2018

WestJet Subsidiary Swoop announces flights to Mexico and US

The new ultra-low-cost carrier has bold plans to expand its horizons, planning operations in the southern U.S. and Mexico after it launches its Canada services in June. WestJet is counting on its Swoop brand to fend off a new breed of bargain carriers such as Flair Airlines while the fledgling carrier attempts to take market share from leisure operators Air Transat and Sunwing Airlines.

“In June, when we have all of the regulatory approvals, we will announce southern flying into the U.S. and Mexico, potentially the Caribbean as well,” Bob Cummings, WestJet’s executive vice president of strategy, said in an interview. “We will aggressively go after the cross-border opportunity, which is quite significant.”

Swoop begins services to popular regional destinations such as Hamilton and Ontario on June 20th. Their one way fees will stat from less than $100. “Part of the strategy of Swoop is for it to be complementary to WestJet,” Cummings said. “It made sense for us to start our network as largely Hamilton-based, with some Abbotsford. Over time, we will evolve and deploy into other markets.” The operation mostly will focus on secondary airports, such as Hamilton, which is about 80 kilometers (50 miles) from Toronto.

9th October 2017

Canada's WestJet adds maiden B737 MAX 8s

WestJet (WS, Calgary) has taken delivery of its maiden pair of B737 MAX 8s following the handing over of C-FRAX (msn 60510) and C-FRAN (msn 60511) late last month.

The aircraft will be deployed on the Canadian carrier's flights between Calgary, Vancouver Int'l, and Toronto Pearson initially before being deployed on international services.

WestJet expects to take delivery of four B737 MAX 8s this year out of a current type order total of twenty-three. A further four are due next year at which time its first of seven B737 MAX 9s are due to arrive.

Source: ch-aviation

05th October 2017

WestJet adds Calgary - Mexico City route in March 2018

WestJet from March 2018 is adding Calgary – Mexico City route, initially operating 4 times a week from 14MAR18. Boeing 737-700 is scheduled to operate this route.

WS2200 YYC0940 – 1444MEX 73W x246
WS2215 MEX1545 – 2122YYC 73W x135

From 29APR18, service will expand to daily operation. In yesterday’s report on Airlineroute, WestJet is also launching Vancouver – Mexico City service from 14MAR18. Flights to/from Vancouver will also increase to daily from 29APR18. The flight increase was not mentioned in yesterday’s report.

28th September 2017

WestJet names ULCC unit Swoop

WestJet (WS, Calgary) has formally christened its nascent ultra low-cost carrier unit Swoop (Calgary). WestJet said in a statement Swoop would launch out of its Calgary hub in Summer 2018 using a fleet of ten high-density B737-800s.

"The city offers Swoop the opportunity to save costs through shared services with WestJet's corporate head office, the availability of existing infrastructure, and talented, experienced WestJetters to draw from. We are confident that these qualities will support our ultra-low-cost operations and our guests well into the future," Bob Cummings WestJet's Executive Vice-President (Strategy) and the executive member responsible for the launch of Swoop, said.

Featuring its own Air Operator's Certificate (AOC), Swoop will launch around the time fellow ULCC Jetlines (Vancouver Int'l) expects to complete its own certification drive.

Source: ch-aviation

16th August 2017

WestJet to begin Calgary-Denver flights in 2018

Canadian low-cost carrier WestJet will expand its route network to include Denver on 8 March 2018, when it launches flights to the city from Calgary, WestJet announces.

August 2017

WestJet's new discount airline service not expected until next year.

WestJet's new discount airline service not expected until next year. WestJet says the launch of its new no-frills, low-cost airline won’t be until next summer after initially announcing plans it would start offering flights later this year. The delay comes in part after the airline decided to switch to a lower-cost booking system, CEO Gregg Saretsky said Tuesday as the company posted its second-quarter results. He said WestJet also doesn’t expect to get regulatory certificates until the first quarter of next year, which is when the airline aims to release an initial flight schedule and start selling tickets ahead of a June launch date for flights.

July 2017

WestJet announced a planned service expansion for its US and international service for winter 2017/18 season. Majority of these service will receive additional frequencies from 29OCT17.

Calgary – Cancun Increase from 14 to 16 weekly
Calgary – Los Angeles Increase from 11 to 14 weekly
Calgary – Palm Springs Increase from 18 to 20 weekly
Calgary – Phoenix Increase from 19 to 20 weekly
Calgary – Puerto Vallarta Increase from 12 to 14 weekly
Calgary – San Jose/Los Cabos Increase from 7 to 8 weekly
Edmonton – Cancun Increase from 5 to 6 weekly
Regina – Puerto Vallarta Increase from 1 to 2 weekly
Toronto – Antigua Increase from 2 to 3 weekly
Toronto – Cancun Increase from 11 to 15 weekly
Toronto – Ft. Lauderdale Increase from 11 to 14 weekly
Toronto – Liberia (Costa Rica) Increase from 4 to 5 weekly
Toronto – Montego Bay Increase from 13 to 14 weekly
Toronto – Nassau Increase from 7 to 9 weekly
Toronto – Orlando Increase from 12 to 15 weekly
Toronto – Puerto Plata Increase from 5 to 6 weekly
Toronto – Punta Cana Increase from 6 to 7 weekly
Vancouver – Cancun Increase from 6 to 7 weekly
Vancouver – Puerto Vallarta Increase from 7 to 8 weekly
Vancouver – San Jose/Los Cabos Increase from 4 to 5 weekly

May 2017

WestJet announces major order for 10 Boeing 787 Dreamliners. In June 2017, WestJet announced it was named favourite overall supplier for service and value and favourite airline in the low cost/hybrid category by Canadian travel agents in the 2017 Agents' Choice Awards by Baxter Travel Media.

WestJet also placed second in five categories including: airline (leisure/charter), airline (traditional), tour operator (WestJet Vacations), responsible travel and online booking resources.

April 2017

WestJet announced that it had been recognised as Best Airline in Canada and Travellers' Choice winner Mid-Sized and Low-Cost Airlines North America. TripAdvisor has highlightights the world’s top carriers based on the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for airlines worldwide gathered over a 12-month period.

March 2017

WestJet has modified a 2013 order with Boeing (BOE, Chicago O'Hare) for sixty-five B737 MAX which, at the time, entailed forty B737 MAX 8s and twenty-five B737 MAX 7s.A review of the Canadian carrier's 2016 earnings shows it rejigged the order to now include thirty B737 MAX 8s and ten B737 MAX 9s. WestJet says it has options to purchase ten more B737 MAX aircraft between the years 2020 and 2021.

In addition, WestJet’s B737 MAX 7 and MAX 8 aircraft orders can each be substituted for the other model of aircraft, or for B737 MAX 9 aircraft. In terms of deliveries, the first four MAX 8s are due this year followed by four more in 2018 when the first three MAX 9s are also due. The first two MAX 7s are scheduled to deliver in 2019.

March 2017

WesJet announced it will double its Houston service witht he addition of a second nonstop flight starting in May. WesJet first launched its first Houston flight in September 2015.

The new WestJet flight departs IAH for Calgary at 8 a.m. every day except Sundays, and the return flight leaves Calgary at 6:45 p.m. and arrives in Houston at 11:44 p.m. WestJet also will continue to operate its original flight — which arrives in Houston at 3:24 p.m. and departs for Calgary at 5 p.m. — six days per week.

In November 2016, WestJet announcd it had partnered with McDonald's Canada in a move that will see the restaurant's McCafé Premium Roast coffee available on board WestJet aircraft. The first flight, taking place on November 21, 2016, from Toronto to Calgary, represents a global-first for McDonald's and an unprecedented next step in the McCafé coffee journey, which in recent years has continued its emphasis on providing Canadians with A New Way to Café. In October 2016, WestJet announced today the airline will increase its capacity out of John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport by 40 per cent in 2017 with the return of non-stop service to Edmonton and Halifax and a new route to Winnipeg. Four-time weekly service to Edmonton returns January 16 until October 28. Daily service to Halifax returns January 16 until October 28. Three-time weekly service to Winnipeg, starts January 17 until October 26. By January 2017, WestJet will be offering 27 weekly departures to seven non-stop destinations out of Hamilton to meet increasing guest demand. In addition, WestJet is now Edmonton International Airport's largest air carrier with almost 75 per cent more seats than the next largest carrier. Overall, WestJet's guests in Edmonton have a total of 55 daily departures to 28 different WestJet destinations to choose from.

Economy Class

Economy Class is Westjet's most basic cabin class. 

Economy Class Facilities

Economy Class passengers flying domestic and short-haul international flights are given a complimentary snack and drink, while passengers on long-haul flights are given a complimentary meal and drinks. 

Passengers seats are also fitted with a personal monitor in which passengers can access the airline's inflight entertainment system. However, this might not be available on certain short-haul and domestic flights.