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 A WestJetBoeing 737 MAX 8 | |||||||
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| Founded | June 27, 1994; 31 years ago (1994-06-27) | ||||||
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| Commenced operations | February 29, 1996; 29 years ago (1996-02-29) | ||||||
| AOC # | |||||||
| Hubs | |||||||
| Focus cities | |||||||
| Frequent-flyer program | WestJet Rewards | ||||||
| Subsidiaries |
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| Fleet size | 153[5] | ||||||
| Destinations | 104[6] | ||||||
| Parent company |
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| Headquarters | Calgary,Alberta,Canada | ||||||
| Key people | Alexis von Hoensbroech (President &CEO) | ||||||
| Founders | |||||||
| Employees | 14,000 (May 2024)[7] | ||||||
| Website | westjet.com | ||||||
WestJet is a Canadian airline headquartered inCalgary,Alberta.[8] Founded in 1994, it is the second largest airline in Canada and theeighth-largest airline in North America by frequency.[9] It began operations in 1996 with 220 employees, three aircraft, and five destinations,[10] and was launched as a low-cost alternative to the country's major airlines.[11]
WestJet operatesscheduled,charter, andcargo air service, transporting more than 25 million passengers per year in over 100 destinations acrossNorth America,Caribbean,Europe,Asia, andCentral America.[12][13][14] WestJet utilizesCalgary International Airport as its exclusive global connecting hub,[15] withToronto Pearson International Airport being a strategic secondary hub. The airline has two direct subsidiaries:WestJet Encore,[16] which operates theDe Havilland Canada Dash 8, theQ400NextGen, onroutes inWestern Canada, and WestJet Cargo, which operates threecargo aircraft, allBoeing 737s (800BCF), which were previously used as WestJet passenger aircraft and converted for cargo use.
WestJet is not a member of any majorairline alliances,[17] such asStar Alliance,Oneworld, orSkyTeam. However, it utilizescodeshare andinterline agreements with various airlines.[18]
WestJet was founded on June 27, 1994,[19] byClive Beddoe,David Neeleman, Mark Hill, Tim Morgan, and Donald Bell. WestJet was based on the low-cost carrier business model pioneered bySouthwest Airlines andMorris Air in the United States. Its original routes were all located inWestern Canada, which gave the airline its name.
On February 29, 1996, the first WestJet flight operated by aBoeing 737-200 departed. Initially, the airline servedCalgary,Edmonton,Kelowna,Vancouver andWinnipeg with a fleet of three second-hand Boeing 737-200s and 225 employees. By the end of that same year, the company had addedRegina,Saskatoon andVictoria to its network.
In mid September 1996, WestJet's fleet was grounded due to a disagreement withTransport 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 formerAir Ontario executive Steve Smith. In July 1999, WestJet made itsinitial public offering of stock at 2.5 million shares, opening at $10 per share.[21] The same year, the cities ofThunder Bay,Grande Prairie, andPrince George were added to WestJet's route map.
In 2000, WestJet CEO Steve Smith was released from WestJet after 18 months in the position, due to differences in management style;[22] Smith went on to head rivalAir Canada's low-cost subsidiaryZip. After Smith's departure, Clive Beddoe again became CEO of the company, a position he held until July 2007.[23]
Due to restructuring in the Canadian airline industry resulting from Air Canada's takeover ofCanadian Airlines in 2000, WestJet expanded intoEastern Canada, beginning service to the cities ofHamilton andOttawa, Ontario, andMoncton, New Brunswick. The airline selectedJohn C. Munro Hamilton International Airport to be the focus of its Eastern Canadian operations and its main connection point in Eastern Canada.
In 2001, WestJet's expansion continued with routes toComox, along withSault Ste. Marie,Sudbury,Ontario,Thompson andBrandon,Manitoba; however, service to each of these four cities has since been withdrawn. Service toBrandon,Manitoba andSudbury,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 ofLondon andToronto. In April 2003, WestJet addedWindsor,Montreal,Halifax,St. John's andGander.
WestJet entered into a two-year agreement withAir 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 ofindustrial espionage and filed a civil suit against WestJet in Ontario Superior Court. Air Canada accused WestJet of accessing Air Canadaconfidential information via a private website to gain a business advantage.[26] On May 29, 2006, WestJet admitted to the charges levelled 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]
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 ofToronto Pearson International Airport.[28]
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In 2004, several U.S. destinations were added or announced. These includedSan Francisco,Los Angeles,Phoenix,Tampa,Fort Lauderdale,Orlando andLaGuardia Airport inNew York City.[29] In early 2005,Palm Springs andSan Diego were added to the company's list of destinations, while New York–LaGuardia was dropped. In April 2005, it announced new seasonal service toCharlottetown and ceased service to Gander. In fall 2005,Fort Myers andLas Vegas were added to the growing list of destinations.
In late August 2005, WestJet flew toBaton Rouge, Louisiana, transporting members of a Vancouver-basedurban search and rescue team to assist withHurricane Katrina relief efforts.[30]
After rumours and speculation surrounding the implementation ofextended-range twin-engine operations (ETOPS), WestJet announced new service toHawaii from Vancouver on September 20, 2005. In December 2005, the airline began flying from Vancouver toHonolulu andMaui.
WestJet's first scheduled service outside Canada and the United States began in 2006, toNassau, The 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.
In 2007, WestJet announced that it would begin flights fromDeer Lake in Newfoundland,Saint John in New Brunswick andKitchener-Waterloo in Ontario. In June 2007, WestJet added seven new international seasonal flights toSaint Lucia,Jamaica, theDominican 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 theLeadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)Green Building Rating System, featuring a rainwater retention system and geothermal heating. The first employees moved in during the first quarter of 2009, and the building officially opened the following May.[32] The WestJet Campus building was certified as LEED Gold standard in October 2011.[33]
In May 2008, WestJet launched daily non-stop service toQuebec City. The next month, WestJet commenced seasonal service betweenCalgary and New York City viaNewark Liberty International Airport. In May 2009, the airline launched new seasonal service to the cities ofYellowknife,Northwest Territories[34] andSydney, Nova Scotia;[35] service to Yellowknife was later extended through the winter of 2009–10.
During the 2000s (decade), WestJet made significant gains in domesticmarket 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%.[36]
In late April 2009, WestJet temporarily suspended service to several of its destinations in Mexico due to theoutbreak 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.[37]
In July 2009, WestJet announced 11 new international destinations for its winter schedule. These included expanded service to the United States, toAtlantic City, New Jersey,Lihue (Kauai), Hawaii andMiami, Florida. New Caribbean destinations includedProvidenciales, in theTurks and Caicos Islands;Sint Maarten,Netherlands Antilles;Freeport, The Bahamas; as well as the cities ofVaradero,Holguín andCayo Coco inCuba.Ixtapa andCozumel were also added to the list of destinations served in Mexico.[38][39]
In November 2009, WestJet announced service to the British island territory ofBermuda, which commenced in May 2010.[40] WestJet also resumed seasonal service toWindsor, Ontario that same month.[citation needed]
In March 2010, Sean Durfy resigned from his position as WestJet's CEO, citing personal reasons.[41] He was replaced byGregg Saretsky, a former executive at Canadian Airlines andAlaska Airlines and previously vice-president of WestJet Vacations and Executive Vice-president of Operations.
In July 2010, WestJet announced service toSanta Clara, Cuba,New Orleans andGrand 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 aBoeing 757 aircraft to expand service between Calgary to Honolulu and Maui and Edmonton to Maui, on a seasonal basis.[42][43] Also that year, theCanadian Transportation Agency (CTA), an independent administrativetribunal of theGovernment of Canada that regulates airlines, found WestJet's baggage policies to be unreasonable and/or contrary to the requirements of theCanada Transportation Act and/or theAir Transport Regulations on several different occasions.[44][45][46][47][48][49]
On January 26, 2011, after Air Canada terminated California service, WestJet announced plans to enter service toJohn Wayne Airport inOrange County, California from Vancouver and Calgary starting May of that year.[50]
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In November 2011, WestJet won an auction for time slots at New York'sLaGuardia Airport ushering in a return to service toNew York.[51] Details of WestJet's scheduled service to LaGuardia were officially announced in January 2012.[52] From 2012 to 2014, WestJet further expanded into the United States by addingChicago viaO'Hare International Airport,Dallas Fort Worth International Airport,Myrtle Beach International Airport, and New York'sJohn F. Kennedy International Airport.
On November 15, 2013, WestJet announced their first destination in Europe. Seasonal service from St. John's, Newfoundland toDublin,Ireland, would operate from June to October 2014.[53]
In January 2014, WestJet chartered anAtlas AirBoeing 747-400 to transport stranded passengers and luggage during the2013 Central and Eastern Canada ice storm. The charter flew fromToronto Pearson International Airport toCalgary International Airport.[54]
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.[55] 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 fourBoeing 767-300ERs in summer 2015.[56] WestJet took delivery of the first of these aircraft on August 27, 2015.[57][58]
On June 16, 2015, WestJet announced the launch of service to London'sGatwick 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-body767-300ER aircraft.[59] 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.[60] During winter months, WestJet continued to serve the seasonalEdmonton -Maui,Calgary -Honolulu, and Calgary - Maui flights with the 767-300ER aircraft before their eventual retirement in 2020.
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In April 2017, WestJet announced plans to launch an ultra-low-cost carrier in late 2017.[61] The new airline would operate using Boeing 737-800 aircraft, and compete with new entrants to the market, such asFlair Airlines.[62] The launch of the new airline, namedSwoop, was delayed until June 2018.[63]
On December 6, 2017, WestJet andDelta Air Lines signed a preliminary memorandum of understanding to extend their current codeshare agreement into a joint venture, pending regulatory and board approval.[64] On July 19, 2018, WestJet and Delta Air Lines signed a definitive ten-year agreement into a joint venture between the two airlines.[65] 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 theUnited States Department of Transportation were seen "unreasonable and unacceptable" by both airlines.[66]
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.[67]
On March 8, 2018, the CEO of WestJet,Gregg Saretsky retired.[68] He was replaced by company vice-president,Ed Sims.
On May 8, 2018, WestJet announced that it would be adding theBoeing 787-9 to its fleet. The first aircraft was delivered to the airline in January 2019.[9]
On May 10, 2018, WestJet's unionized pilots voted 91 percent in favour of strike action. The key issue in negotiations was the outsourcing of work to operateSwoop aircraft.[69] On May 25, 2018, WestJet and theAir Line Pilots Association (ALPA) agreed to a settlement process through the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.[70]
On May 14, 2018, WestJet announced new 2-2Premium Economy seating to replace its previous 3-3 seats which had a middle seat blocker. The new seats feature a wider configuration on 737 aircraft. The offering began on its Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in winter 2018,[71] with all 737s being reconfigured by 2020.
On May 31, 2018, WestJet operated its first flight toEurope with the inaugural flight fromHalifax Stanfield International Airport toParis'Charles de Gaulle Airport.[72]
TheCanadian 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.[73][74]
On October 12, 2018, WestJet announced its new branding, along with details on the arrival on theBoeing 787-9. WestJet changed its slogan from "Owners Care" to "Love where you're going", announced a new logo (however, that logo was seen back in May with the announcement of the Boeing 787-9 along with its livery), announced the Boeing 787 routes and launch dates, and an overall new brand image. Boeing 787 flights were announced to commence on April 28, 2019, with service fromCalgary International Airport toLondon Gatwick, with service toParis andDublin following.[75]
On May 13, 2019, WestJet announced it had reached an agreement to be purchased byOnex 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.[76]
Due to theCOVID-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.[77]
In March 2020, WestJet suspended all international flights,[78] resulting in widespread workforce adjustments. Approximately half of the employees, totalling 6,900, were laid off on March 24.[79] Subsequently, on April 9, WestJet temporarily rehired 6,400 employees through the federal wage subsidy program (CEWS).[80] Additional layoffs followed, with approximately 8,000 employees between April and June,[81][82] as part of a restructuring plan, leaving only 4,500 employees on the payroll. Before the pandemic, WestJet employed over 14,000 individuals.[83] By February 2021, the company laid off an additional 250 staff members due to ongoing travel restrictions.[citation needed] However, it is noteworthy that a majority of employees were successfully recalled by February 2022, reflecting the company's efforts in adapting to the challenging circumstances.
In June, 2021, WestJet announced that they would begin dedicated freighter operations using converted Boeing B737-800BCF Freighters in an attempt to benefit from the heavy cargo operations that occurred globally during the pandemic, but also to disrupt the air cargo industry in Canada.[84] Although the first freighter was delivered in April, 2022[85] they would not be certified by transport Canada for over a year after delivery in April 2023, with operations beginning later that same month. Initially, there were three BCF's in the fleet, with a fourth joining later on that year.[86]
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.[87] This change resulted in numerous routes and destinations in eastern Canada to be dropped.[88][89]
On September 29, 2022, WestJet announced it had placed an order for an additional 42Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft, making the airline's narrow-body order book the largest in Canada.[90]
On October 6, 2022, WestJet's CEO, Alexis von Hoensbroech, and Alberta Premier,Jason Kenney, announced a major partnership between theGovernment of Alberta and the WestJet Group. The agreement outlined thatCalgary International Airport would become WestJet's sole global hub and the company would designate the airport as "the only airport where WestJet connects directly to intercontinental destinations"[91] Additionally, WestJet would base its entireBoeing 787 Dreamliner fleet in Calgary, opening up the potential for new routes to Europe and Asia. WestJet would also base over 100 aircraft in Calgary and double its capacity at the airport before the end of the decade.[92]
On December 5, 2022, WestJet announced its first destination in Asia, with service fromCalgary International Airport toNarita International Airport beginning with three times weekly service on April 30, 2023. WestJet also announced new routes from Calgary toBarcelona–El Prat Airport andEdinburgh Airport, both being served three times a week beginning in May 2023, as well as frequency increases on existing European routes as a part of their plan to increase capacity in Calgary by more than 25% in 2023.[93]
In November 2023, WestJet announced the restart of transatlantic service in Eastern Canada utilizing its Boeing 737 MAX 8 fleet, with the return of service from Toronto toDublin andEdinburgh,[94] St. John's toLondon (Gatwick)[95] and Halifax to Dublin, Edinburgh and London (Gatwick). The airline also announced the expansion of transatlantic service from Calgary with new non-stop flights toKeflavík Airport in Reykjavik, Iceland. WestJet also revealed plans to expand its Asian footprint with new seasonal service fromCalgary International Airport to South Korea'sIncheon International Airport.[94]
In June 2024, WestJet's aircraft mechanic union launched a three-day strike, forcing over 1000 flights to be cancelled in the lead up to the Canada Day long weekend.[96] In October 2024, WestJet will be transitioning allWestJet Link routes from Link to Encore, ending the airline's six-year capacity purchase agreement withPacific Coastal Airlines.[97] The change is announced as a growth strategy for WestJet's regional network, which will see the WestJet Link routes now being operated by WestJet Encore's 78-seatBombardier Q400, as opposed to Pacific Coastal's 34-seatSaab 340B.
In March 2025, WestJet decided their dedicated freighter network was no longer viable and would not be part of the airlines long-term plans. As a result, the airline began the process of ending its dedicated freighter network and focusing their cargo operations on belly cargo.[98] At the time, two of the airlines four Boeing B737-800BCF's were in storage, with the other two primarily operating flights for Cargojet on that airlines route betweenNewark Liberty International Airport toL.F. Wade International Airport in Bermuda.[99] This decision was also led by Kirsten de Bruijn's (Executive VP of Westjet Cargo) decision to exit WestJet.
In June 2025, WestJet suffered adata breach attack from what they describe as a "sophisticated, criminal third party." The data exposed in the breach included names, contact details and travel documents, though no payment information was exfiltrated. WestJet made a notice to U.S. residents on September 29, 2025.[100][101]
In September 2025, WestJet ordered 60737 MAX 10 and 7787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, worthUS$10,000,000,000 making this the largest-ever Canadian order of Boeing airplanes.[102][103]
On March 2, 2022, the WestJet Group announced its intent to acquire the Canadian low-cost airlineSunwing. Both WestJet and Sunwing reported that they had reached a mutual, definitive agreement for the merger. Following the close of the transaction, the two airlines would create a new "tour business operating unit" which would be led by current Sunwing CEO Stephen Hunter, which would bind the two airlines' vacation units - Sunwing Vacations and WestJet Vacations - together. The "tour business operating unit" would be based out of Sunwing's head office inToronto, while the operations of Sunwing would be transitioned and managed at WestJet's head office inCalgary. The acquisition announcement was made shortly after WestJet's new CEO Alexis Von Hoensbroech assumed the role. Shortly after, the CanadianCompetition Bureau was asked to review this intent.[104]
On October 26, 2022, the Canadian Competition Bureau sent a letter toTransport Canada under theGovernment of Canada, raising "significant concerns" and "uncertainty" on the acquisition. The letter raised concerns about the elimination of competition between the two airlines, which would result in "substantial lessening" or "prevention" of competition in the sale of airline vacation packages to Canadians, specifically for ones which are for sun destinations, such asMexico or theCaribbean. The report stated that "the proposed transaction will result in one of Canada's largest integrated tour operations being acquired by one of its primary rivals in the provision of vacation packages." The report also stated that "overall, WestJet and Sunwing account for 37 percent of non-stop capacity betweenCanada and sun destinations, and 72 percent of non-stop capacity betweenWestern Canada and sun destinations." The report also outlined warnings in which for the acquisition would take place, it would likely result in "higher ticket prices and lower services offered."
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 theCanadian 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."[105]
News outlets have also been quotingAir Canada andAir Transat's failed merger.[106] The acquisition, which was set to merge Canada's largest airline with Canada's third largest and top leisure airline, fell through, even after theCanadian government gave Air Canada and Transat the green light to go through with the merger, which saw Air Canada buyout Air Transat for just over US$150 million. It fell through afterEuropean Union regulators refused to grant Air Canada andTransat A.T. the go-ahead for the buyout, which is where Air Transat and Air Canada gain lots of revenue - on trans-Atlantic flights from Canada to Europe. In April 2021, Air Canada and Air Transat mutually agreed to terminate the buyout.
On March 10, 2023, the Canadian federal government formally approved 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 MinisterOmar Alghabra said in a statement, as he referred to the chaos during theDecember 2022 North American winter snowstorm that disrupted millions who had travel plans over the winter holidays. Sunwing's handling over the situation was heavily criticized as it left thousands stranded inCancún, Mexico. “After considering the pros and cons, we have made the decision that will allow Sunwing to continue to provide affordable vacation packages to Canadians, create more good jobs and protect current jobs as well as Canadians who have already purchased tickets.” he continued. However, with the green light, are several conditions in which the merger must follow. It goes as follows:[107]
_Boeing_737-800_in_Toronto_(YYZ).jpg)
On May 1, 2023, the WestJet Group completed its acquisition of Sunwing Vacations and Sunwing. 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, integrating the low-cost carrier into its mainline business within two years as part of a plan to streamline operations on an unknown date.[107]
On September 29, 2023, WestJet stated via an announcement that they aim to merge Sunwing's entirety into WestJet by October 2024. They plan to integrate all of Sunwing's 18Boeing 737 aircraft into WestJet's mainline fleet and transition more than 2,000 current Sunwing employees into WestJet's existing structure by that date. This merger is on top of WestJet's decision to shut downSwoop, its former ultra-low-cost carrier which it brought into the market in 2017. As of October 2023, Swoop has been fully integrated into WestJet; however, the aircraft from Swoop retain the Swoop livery and cabin.[108][109]
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 firmOnex Corporation.[110]
On May 13, 2019, WestJet 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.[111] 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 theToronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol WJA.[112]
On May 9, 2025,Delta Air Lines acquired 15% of WestJet for US$300 million, withKorean Air acquiring a 10% stake for US$220 million. Onex Group retained the other 75%.[113][114]
WestJet Encore is WestJet's affiliated regional airline, which commenced operations on June 24, 2013, with a fleet ofDe Havilland Canada Dash 8 twin-turboprop aircraft.[115] WestJet Encore was granted its separate Air Operator Certificate from Transport Canada, on June 12, 2013.[116] It was set up to serve smaller communities in Canada.
WestJet Vacations is a subsidiary of theSunwing Vacations Group. 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,[117] allowing WestJet to extend its offerings beyond air travel and cater to the growing demand for all-inclusive vacation options.[118]
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, a 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.[119]
WestJet Link, launched in June 2018, was a capacity purchase agreement withPacific Coastal Airlines operating flights on behalf of WestJet.[120] The service "link[ed]" passengers from WestJet's hubs at Calgary and Vancouver to smaller communities in Western Canada usingSaab 340B aircraft.[121] The agreement ended in October 2024, with WestJet transitioning most routes from Link to Encore.[97]
Swoop was anultra low-cost carrier (ULCC) owned by WestJet that commenced operations on June 20, 2018. Swoop operated a fleet of Boeing737-800 aircraft, and later received Boeing 737MAX8 aircraft.[122] All of these aircraft were transferred to WestJet's fleet at the end of its life.[citation needed] Swoop fully integrated with WestJet's mainline operations on October 28, 2023.[123]
The key trends for the WestJet Group (including subsidiaries) 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 | [112] | [112] | [112] | [112] | [112] | [124] | [13] |
Annual accounts do not appear to have been published for 2019 onward, as WestJet became a private company that year and no longer publicizes this information.
WestJet currently operates two hubs.
WestJet and WestJet Encore currently fly to more than 100 destinations in 28 countries[10][125] throughout North and Central America, the Caribbean and Europe including 39 cities in Canada and 29 in the United States. WestJet provides the most Canadian flights toCancún,Puerto Vallarta,Las Vegas andOrlando, offering non-stop routes (some of them seasonal) from twelve Canadian cities to Cancun and Puerto Vallarta, nine to Las Vegas and eleven to Orlando. Since 2008, WestJet is the largest international carrier, by volume of passengers, flying into Las Vegas.[126][127] WestJet also serves 20 destinations in the Caribbean and seven in Mexico, some on a seasonal basis.
In July 2015, WestJet announced flights toGatwick Airport operated byBoeing 767 aircraft, which had not previously been part of the airline's fleet, starting spring 2016.[128]
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.[129]
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 newBoeing 787 aircraft to fly these new routes.[130] In addition, the current Calgary toGatwick Airport route, which was formerly served by WestJet's Boeing 767 aircraft, has been replaced by new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.[131] At the end of October, WestJet also announced two new destinations. It began flights betweenCalgary andAtlanta, WestJet's expected joint-venture carrierDelta Air Lines' largest hub, in March 2019. WestJet is the only carrier operating a direct route between Calgary and Atlanta. The airline also announced flights betweenToronto andBarcelona, its second destination in mainland Europe which began in May 2019.[132] In June 2021, WestJet announced the opening of a new route from Calgary toAmsterdam[133] followed by Seattle in November 2021,[134] providing convenient connections for business and leisure travellers.
In 2022, WestJet embraced a focus on offering connections to a major international hub and replaced its previous service to London Gatwick with a new route to LondonHeathrow Airport in March,[135] andRome was added to WestJet's European offerings in May.[136]
In 2023, WestJet strengthened its presence in theUnited States, and its partnership withDelta Air Lines with new routes toDetroit in May andMinneapolis andWashington Dulles in June.[137] The Detroit service strengthens WestJet's presence in the U.S. Midwest, and Minneapolis gained year-round transborder connectivity with the new route, while Washington Dulles offers access to the political and business hub of the United States capital.
Services toTokyo, WestJet's first destination outside of North America and Europe, began in April 2023.[138]Bonaire, the 'B' inABC Islands, joined WestJet's vacation destinations in December 2023.[139]
In 2024, the airline announced upcoming services toReykjavík, Iceland (Keflavík)[140] andSeoul, South Korea both to begin in May.[141]
In 1999, WestJet was in talks regarding a possible 'feeder' arrangement for Air Canada's network.[142] These talks were discontinued when Air Canada went forward with the acquisition of Canadian Airlines the following year.
In 2005, WestJet began a limited interline agreement with Taiwan-basedChina Airlines, in part to test the company's capability to partner with other carriers.[143]
In 2006, WestJet announced it had been in talks with 70 airlines around the world interested in an interline or codeshare agreement.[144][145][146] In August 2006, in aGlobe and Mail interview, then-WestJet CEO Sean Durfy stated that WestJet was in talks withOneworld. Durfy said that, if a deal with Oneworld were reached, it would allow WestJet to maintain its scheduling flexibility;[147] Durfy was later quoted in 2007 saying that a deal for WestJet to join the Oneworld alliance was unlikely.[148] Despite this, WestJet did formalize a deal with Oneworld in November 2008, to partner on sales of travel to corporate and business travellers.[149]
In July 2008, WestJet announced it had signed a memorandum of understanding to build a distribution and codeshare agreement with U.S.-basedSouthwest Airlines. However, in April 2010, WestJet announced that the airline partnership with Southwest Airlines was terminated, and in October 2010, WestJet partnered withAmerican Airlines instead[150] and later added Delta Air Lines. In light of a possible joint venture between WestJet andDelta,American and WestJet ceased their codeshare agreement on July 31, 2018.[151][152]
In 2017, WestJet,easyJet andNorwegian Air Shuttle teamed up to provide direct connections at LondonGatwick Airport. The scheme, dubbed by easyJet as "Worldwide by easyJet" allows passengers to connect from easyJet flights to American and Canadian destinations with WestJet and Norwegian.
As of January 2025, WestJet hascodeshare agreements with the following airlines:[18]
As of January 2025, WestJet additionally maintainsinterlining agreements with the following airlines:[18]
As of August 2025[update], WestJet operates an all-Boeing mainline fleet composed of the following aircraft:[5][153]
| Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passengers | Notes | Refs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | W | Y+ | Y | Total | |||||
| Boeing 737-700 | 36 | — | — | 12 | 12 | 108 | 132 | Already being phased out, with more planned to be in the future. No date has been set for total retirement of this variant. | [154] |
| Boeing 737-800 | 36 | — | — | 12 | 24 | 138 | 174 | [155][156][157] | |
| 19 | — | — | 189 | 189 | 10 transferred fromSwoop with its configuration and livery. 9 transferred fromSunwing with its configuration. All to be reconfigured by the end of 2025. | ||||
| 12 | 36 | 132 | 180 | New standard configuration. All economy configured aircraft to receive this configuration first. | [158][159] | ||||
| Boeing 737 MAX 8 | 32 | 14 | — | 12 | 24 | 138 | 174 | [160][161] | |
| 24 | — | — | 189 | 189 | 6 transferred from Swoop with its configuration and livery. 9 transferred fromLynx Air with its configuration. 9 transferred from Sunwing with its configuration. All to be reconfigured by the end of 2025. | ||||
| 12 | 36 | 132 | 180 | New standard configuration. All economy configured aircraft to receive this configuration first. | [162][163] | ||||
| Boeing 737 MAX 10 | — | 102 | — | 12 | 200 | 212 | Launch customer. Order with 47 options. Deliveries until 2034.[164][165] | [166] | |
| Boeing 787-9 | 7 | 7 | 16 | 28 | 60 | 216 | 320 | Order with 4 options. Deliveries until 2034.[164] | [167] |
| WestJet Cargo fleet | |||||||||
| Boeing 737-800BCF | 3 | — | Cargo | Planned to be phased out. Multiple are stored. | [168][169] | ||||
| Total | 157 | 123 | |||||||
The mainline fleet currently consists entirely of Boeing aircraft, while wholly owned subsidiary Encore fliesBombardier Q400s. 20 aircraft were initially ordered with options for up to 25 more. The first two units were delivered in mid June 2013.[170] Scheduled passenger service on these aircraft began on June 24, 2013.[171] The firstBoeing 737 Next Generation, a737-700 delivery took place in 2001, and the first deliveries of737-600 and737-800 aircraft began in 2005, with the final 737-600 aircraft delivered in September 2006.
Boeing confirmed on August 2, 2007 that WestJet had placed an order for 23 Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft. The order was primarily for 737-700 but with conversion rights to the larger Boeing 737-800s.[172]
In the winter season before acquiring theirBoeing 767s andBoeing 787s, WestJet temporarilywet leased someBoeing 757-200s to expand service between Alberta and Hawaii. From February through April 2011, a single aircraft was leased for this purpose;[42][43] in the winter of 2011–12, a single aircraft was again leased.[173] For the winter seasons from 2012 to 2015, this was expanded to two aircraft.[174][175] In April 2013, it was announced that WestJet would sell ten of its oldest 737-700s and purchase ten 737-800s to modernize and increase capacity of its fleet.
In May 2014, CEO Gregg Saretsky announced that WestJet was considering acquiringwide-body aircraft to operate long-haul international routes. By July of the same year, Saretsky confirmed that wide-body service would begin in 2015.[176] In June 2014, WestJet announced that the wide-body aircraft were to be second-handBoeing 767-300ERs sourced fromQantas.[177] The four Boeing 767s were an average of 25 years old, which meant that they needed frequent repairs and downtime for sourcing parts.[178] This resulted in a poor on-time performance of 38 percent in 2016,[178] costing the airline approximately $5 million in the second quarter of 2016.[178] In 2017, WestJet reduced the number of flights from Winnipeg and Edmonton to reduce utilization of the planes for the summer of 2017 to cope with any unforeseen delays or cancellations.[178]
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 orAirbus A330. In a statement, the airline said that it was seeking more large aircraft intending to add 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.[179][180] WestJet ended up only purchasing seven Boeing 787-9 aircraft and cancelled the remaining orders. It is believed that the cancelled Boeing 787 orders may have been converted to Boeing 737 MAX orders instead.[citation needed]
Many of the first planes in WestJet's fleet were Boeing 737-200s, with their registrations including the letters "WJ" in them. For example, C-FCWJ, C-FGWJ, C-FIWJ, C-FKWJ, C-FLWJ, C-GGWJ, and multiple more. This theme did not continue with the rest of the aircraft entering the fleet later on.[citation needed]
In 2003 and 2004, WestJet donated two of its 737-200s to post-secondary schools in western Canada, one to theBritish Columbia Institute of Technology[181] and a second to theSouthern Alberta Institute of Technology's Art Smith Aero Centre.[182] In early 2005, it was announced that theBoeing 737 fleet would be retired and replaced by newer, more fuel-efficient 737 Next Generation series aircraft. On July 12, 2005, WestJet announced that it had completed the sale of its remaining737-200 to Miami-based Apollo Aviation Group.[183] On January 9, 2006, the last Boeing 737-200 was flown during afly-by ceremony at the WestJet hangar in Calgary, piloted by WestJet founder Don Bell and was acharter flight from Las Vegas to Calgary.[citation needed]
Boeing's 767s were first introduced to test the demand of flights to Europe, mainly to see if they could be successful with the routes. These 767s were aquired from Qantas, which had recently entirely retired their fleet of 767s. In July 2020, WestJet retired their fleet of fourBoeing 767-300ER aircraft due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[184] In January 2021, it was announced that the four 767-300 aircraft from WestJet were to be among a total of 11 to be purchased byAmazon and converted to freight use.[185][186] As the testing was over, WestJet was comfortable with the European-Canadian market and would later utilize Boeing 787-9s, as pictured above.
In the past, WestJet operated the following aircraft:[citation needed]
| Aircraft | Total | Introduced | Retired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-200 | 25 | 1996 | 2006 | |
| Boeing 737-600 | 13 | 2006 | 2021 | Retired due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. |
| Boeing 757-200 | 1 | 2011 | 2011 | Leased fromNorth American Airlines. |
| 7 | 2011 | 2015 | Wet-leased fromThomas Cook Airlines. | |
| Boeing 767-300ER | 4 | 2015 | 2020 | Retired due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. |
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WestJet's aircraft are painted white except for the lettering on the fuselage, wings andvertical stabilizer.
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 theblended 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 withDisney, featuringMickey Mouse from the movieFantasia 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.[187] Following the new CEO's decision, the Disney aircraft were repainted into the normal livery in 2024.
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 theport side and "L'esprit du Canada" on thestarboard side. An updated, stylized maple leaf on the aircraft tail is also included.[188] Beginning in August 2022 with aircraft C-GLWS, a revised livery excluding "The Spirit of Canada" titles was introduced with all subsequent aircraft deliveries and repaints not receiving those titles.[citation needed]
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.[citation needed] The aircraft is painted in its new livery.[citation needed]
In April 2022, WestJet Cargo's first dedicated freighter, a Boeing B737-800BCF, was delivered. It featured the airlines standard livery that was introduced in 2018, except it had largo "CARGO" titles following the WestJet titles on the side of the aircraft, as well as "In partnership with GTA" titles at the front of the aircraft. These titles are English on one side, and French on the other and signify the partnership WestJet began with GTA Aviation to help sell capacity on the freighters.[85]
On October 28, 2023, WestJet's subsidiarySwoop was integrated into WestJet's mainly operations.[citation needed] All of the aircraft (Boeing 737-800s and 737MAX8s) were added to the fleet, with no repainting. Swoop branding was still visible on the aircraft after the Swoop's ending, with smaller WestJet logo stickers put on the aircraft. All of the 16 aircraft are scheduled to be repainted by the end of 2025, along with configuration editing to fit the WestJet normal.
On May
In 2024, all special livery planes were repainted to the new WestJet livery, leaving no special liveries to be spotted. However, Swoop and Sunwing (May 2025 onward) liveries can been seen on WestJet aircraft due to no repainting. They are expected to be repainted by the end of 2025.
On May 28, 2025,Sunwing flew its final flight since WestJet bought ownership of the airline. A total of 18 aircraft were transferred from Sunwing to WestJet, without being repainted, and still with their all-economy configurations. The configurations are expected to be modified into the WestJet normal.
WestJet Airlines: WJA, WESTJET
Ryder speculates that Onex, with its sizable war chest for acquisitions, might want to buy one of the discount airlines in Canada and merge it with Swoop, WestJet's ultra-low-cost carrier.
Media related toWestJet at Wikimedia Commons
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