WestJet Transitions to Full-Service Carrier in Canada

WestJet has made the significant move to become a full-service carrier in Canada. This shift has allowed the airline to expand its offerings and better compete with other major carriers in the country.

The airline's decision to transition to a full-service carrier was likely influenced by its growing demand for premium services. With the introduction of new amenities and services, WestJet aims to provide a more comfortable and enjoyable travel experience for its passengers.

As a result of this transition, WestJet has introduced new amenities such as live TV, in-flight entertainment, and complimentary meals on select flights.

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WestJet's expansion into the Eastern Canada market began in April 2004, shifting its focus from Hamilton to Toronto and tripling its flights out of Toronto Pearson International Airport.

This move was a strategic decision to tap into the lucrative Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal triangle.

In 2005, WestJet announced new service to Hawaii from Vancouver, starting with flights to Honolulu and Maui in December.

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The airline's first flights to Hawaii marked a significant milestone in its long-haul operations.

WestJet's international presence expanded further in 2006, with the launch of scheduled service to Nassau, The Bahamas.

This marked a major achievement in the company's destination strategy, paving the way for future international market growth.

Sean Durfy took over as president of WestJet in September 2006, succeeding founder Clive Beddoe.

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WestJet has made significant strides in expanding its reach through strategic acquisitions and partnerships.

The airline acquired Sunwing Airlines in 2019, adding to its fleet and network.

This move marked a strategic shift towards becoming a more diversified carrier.

WestJet also partnered with Delta Air Lines in 2019, allowing for increased connectivity and cooperation between the two airlines.

The partnership enabled passengers to earn and redeem miles across both airlines' loyalty programs.

WestJet Vacations was also established in 2002, offering customers a range of vacation packages and services.

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WestJet Airlines Ltd. is a private company, incorporated and domiciled in Canada. It's owned by WestJet Group, which has been under the control of Toronto-based private equity firm Onex Corporation since December 2019.

WestJet was acquired by Onex Corporation in a $5-billion deal that was finalized in December 2019. The acquisition was approved by regulators, who determined that WestJet would continue to meet Canadian ownership and control requirements if Onex amended its bylaws.

The acquisition price was $31 per share, significantly higher than the closing price of approximately $18 on the previous business day. This suggests that Onex Corporation was willing to pay a premium to take control of WestJet.

WestJet's shares were withdrawn from the public market, having previously been traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol WJA. This indicates a significant change in the company's ownership structure.

In a recent development, Delta Air Lines acquired a 15% stake in WestJet for $300 million, while Korean Air acquired a 10% stake for $220 million. Onex Group retained the remaining 75% of the company.

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WestJet's business trends over the years show a steady increase in turnover, with a significant jump from 2012 to 2013.

The airline's turnover grew from 3,427 C$m in 2012 to 3,662 C$m in 2013, a 7% increase. This growth continued over the next few years, with turnover reaching 4,733 C$m by 2018.

Here's a breakdown of WestJet's turnover and net profit after tax from 2012 to 2018:

WestJet's net profit after tax saw a significant decline from 2016 to 2018, dropping from 295 C$m to 91 C$m.

In 2017, WestJet and Delta Air Lines signed a preliminary memorandum of understanding to extend their codeshare agreement into a joint venture. This move marked a significant step towards WestJet's goal of becoming a full-service carrier.

Gregg Saretsky reconfirmed the airline's strategic goal to become a global, full-service carrier in January 2018. This goal was a key part of the airline's expansion plans.

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On March 8, 2018, Gregg Saretsky retired as CEO of WestJet, and Ed Sims took over as the new CEO. Sims had previously served as company vice-president.

WestJet introduced new 2-2 Premium Economy seating on its Boeing 737 aircraft, replacing the previous 3-3 seats with a middle seat blocker. The new seats feature a wider configuration.

The airline operated its first flight to Europe in May 2018, with a flight from Halifax Stanfield International Airport to Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport. This marked a significant milestone in WestJet's expansion plans.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) was certified as the accredited union for WestJet mainline flight attendants in July 2018. This move gave flight attendants a stronger voice in the airline.

WestJet announced its new branding on October 12, 2018, along with details on the arrival of the Boeing 787-9. The airline's new slogan is "Love where you're going", and it features a new logo.

The airline's new branding was accompanied by the announcement of new Boeing 787 routes and launch dates. The first Boeing 787 flights were scheduled to commence on April 28, 2019.

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WestJet Vacations offers a range of travel packages that combine flights and accommodations to various destinations.

These packages are designed to provide customers with convenience and cost savings when planning their vacations. WestJet Vacations was established in June 2006 as a subsidiary of the Sunwing Vacations Group.

The service was created to cater to the growing demand for all-inclusive vacation options. WestJet Vacations covers destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean, the United States, and other locations.

By offering comprehensive travel packages, WestJet Vacations allows customers to book their entire vacation in one place, saving them time and effort.

WestJet's business trends show a steady growth in turnover, with a significant increase from 3,427 C$m in 2012 to 4,733 C$m in 2018. This growth is a testament to the company's ability to expand its operations and increase revenue.

The number of employees has also seen a notable increase, from 7,742 FTEs in 2012 to 11,624 FTEs in 2018. This suggests that WestJet has been hiring more staff to support its growing operations.

Here's a breakdown of the key business trends:

WestJet has been forced to suspend several routes to the United States due to lower demand. The airline has canceled flights to Las Vegas, Ottawa to Fort Myers, Winnipeg to Los Angeles, and others.

Cancellations include a flight from Victoria to Las Vegas, which is a significant cut given Vegas' history with Canadians. The Kelowna to Seattle route was also suspended from June through August.

Flights from Edmonton to Atlanta, and from Winnipeg to Las Vegas, were slashed between July and August. WestJet has adjusted its schedule to meet demand, and it remains committed to reviewing opportunities for direct service on these routes in the future.

WestJet has suspended planned flying to nine transborder routes for various portions of the summer schedule. This adjustment suggests a pivot towards warmer destinations, especially Mexico, as U.S. visits continue to decline.

WestJet offers non-stop routes from twelve Canadian cities to Cancun and Puerto Vallarta, nine to Las Vegas, and eleven to Orlando.

The airline serves 20 destinations in the Caribbean and seven in Mexico, with some routes operating on a seasonal basis.

WestJet flies to more than 100 destinations in 28 countries, including 39 cities in Canada and 29 in the United States.

Here are some of WestJet's new routes:

WestJet Link was a capacity purchase agreement with Pacific Coastal Airlines that operated flights on behalf of WestJet from 2018 to 2024.

The service linked passengers from WestJet's hubs at Calgary and Vancouver to smaller communities in Western Canada using Saab 340B aircraft.

Most routes from WestJet Link transitioned to Encore, a service that has allowed WestJet to expand its reach to more destinations.

WestJet has been busy adding new routes, including three new Mexican routes from Calgary this year, featuring Guadalajara, Tepic (Riviera Nayarit), and Cozumel.

The airline has also extended its service between Calgary and Mexico City, giving passengers more options for sunny getaways.

The new Puerto Escondido route, set to start in December, is a weekly flight that will leave Calgary at 8:55 AM and arrive at 3:55 PM.

WestJet operates flights to over 100 destinations in 28 countries.

The airline serves 39 cities in Canada and 29 in the United States, offering non-stop routes to popular destinations like Cancún, Puerto Vallarta, Las Vegas, and Orlando.

WestJet provides the most Canadian flights to Cancún and Puerto Vallarta, with non-stop routes from twelve Canadian cities to each of these destinations.

In addition to its domestic and US routes, WestJet also serves 20 destinations in the Caribbean and seven in Mexico.

WestJet's international expansion has been significant, with the airline announcing new routes to destinations like Dublin, Paris, and Amsterdam in recent years.

Here are some of WestJet's new and existing international routes:

WestJet operates two hubs, one in Calgary and the other in Toronto-Pearson.

The Calgary hub is WestJet's Western Canada global hub, with a fleet of Boeing 787-9 aircraft based there.

WestJet's Toronto-Pearson hub connects to destinations across Canada and sun destinations.

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WestJet has been actively building alliances and agreements with various airlines over the years. In 2005, the airline began a limited interline agreement with Taiwan-based China Airlines, testing its capability to partner with other carriers.

WestJet has a codeshare agreement with Delta Air Lines, which was a key factor in their joint venture discussions in the past. However, in 2018, American Airlines and WestJet ceased their codeshare agreement due to the potential joint venture between WestJet and Delta.

As of January 2025, WestJet has codeshare agreements with 18 airlines, including Aeroméxico, Air France, and Cathay Pacific. This allows WestJet to expand its reach and offer more destinations to its customers.

WestJet also maintains interlining agreements with 28 airlines, including Air China, Air New Zealand, and British Airways. These agreements enable WestJet to provide seamless connections to its passengers.

Here is a list of WestJet's current codeshare partners:

Here is a list of WestJet's current interlining partners:

WestJet operates an all-Boeing mainline fleet, consisting of Boeing 737-700, 737-800, 737 MAX 8, 737 MAX 10, and Boeing 787-9 aircraft. WestJet's fleet is composed of a mix of older and newer models, with some aircraft being reconfigured or replaced.

The airline has a total of 157 aircraft in service, with 123 more on order. The Boeing 737 MAX 10 is the newest addition to the fleet, with deliveries expected until 2034. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which is named after one of WestJet's founders, is a key part of the airline's long-haul operations.

WestJet's fleet strategy has shifted over the years, with a focus on acquiring Boeing aircraft. The airline has also operated Bombardier Q400s through its subsidiary Encore, but the mainline fleet is now entirely composed of Boeing aircraft.

WestJet Encore is a regional airline affiliated with WestJet, which started flying on June 24, 2013. It was set up to serve smaller communities in Canada.

WestJet Encore operates a fleet of De Havilland Canada Dash 8 twin-turboprop aircraft.

WestJet operates an all-Boeing mainline fleet, with no Airbus aircraft in service. The airline has a diverse range of Boeing aircraft, including the 737-700, 737-800, 737 MAX 8, 737 MAX 10, and 787-9.

The Boeing 737-700 is the oldest model in the fleet, with 36 aircraft in service. The 737-800 is also a popular choice, with 36 aircraft in service and 24 additional aircraft on order.

WestJet's Boeing 737 MAX 8 fleet is relatively new, with 32 aircraft in service and 14 more on order. The airline has also ordered 102 Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft, which will be delivered until 2034.

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is a long-haul aircraft that WestJet acquired in 2019. The airline has 7 of these aircraft in service and 7 more on order.

Here is a breakdown of WestJet's fleet:

In addition to its mainline fleet, WestJet also operates a cargo fleet consisting of 3 Boeing 737-800BCF aircraft.

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WestJet's aircraft are painted white, except for the lettering on the fuselage, wings, and vertical stabilizer.

The tail is divided into three sections, with navy blue, white, and teal colors from front to back.

A Boeing 737-800 aircraft was painted with a special livery in 2010 to promote WestJet's customer-service promise, or "Care-antee".

This aircraft featured a new tail design and was later repainted in 2013 with a Disney theme, called the "Magic Plane".

The Magic Plane was followed by a second Disney-themed aircraft in 2015, named the "Frozen Plane", which featured characters Elsa and Anna on the vertical stabilizer.

In 2018, WestJet introduced a new livery, which includes a new font for the word "WestJet" and the phrase "The Spirit of Canada" on the port side and "L'esprit du Canada" on the starboard side.

The new livery also features an updated, stylized maple leaf on the aircraft tail.

In 2022, WestJet began delivering aircraft with a revised livery that excludes the "The Spirit of Canada" titles.

WestJet Cargo's first dedicated freighter, a Boeing B737-800BCF, was delivered in 2022 and features the standard livery with "CARGO" titles on the side of the aircraft.

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WestJet has had its fair share of close calls over the years, but fortunately, most of them have ended without any serious injuries or damage.

In 2008, WestJet Flight 849 overran the runway at Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport, landing long on Runway 07 and sliding into two feet of snow. Luckily, no one was injured.

WestJet has had several instances of runway overruns, including in 2015 when Flight 588 overran the runway at Montréal–Trudeau International Airport during heavy rain. The aircraft was not damaged.

In 2017, WestJet Flight 2652 descended too low in a heavy rain shower with low visibility, initially lining up on a beachside hotel instead of the runway. Thankfully, the crew executed a go-around and landed safely.

WestJet has also had its share of collisions, including in 2023 when Flight 346 collided with a Royal Canadian Air Force CC-130H Hercules while taxiing on the ground. Miraculously, no one was injured.

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Here are some of the notable incidents involving WestJet: