WestJet: Difference between revisions

| airline = WestJet Airlines Ltd.

| image =

| logo = WestJetLogoOctober2018.svg

| logo_size = 280

| image2 =

| caption2 =

| image2-width =

| IATA = WS

| ICAO = WJA<ref name=CanICAOD>{{CanICAOD|WestJet Airlines|WJA|WESTJET|8|2023-02-27}}</ref>

| callsign = WESTJET<ref name=CanICAOD/>

| parent = {{nowrap|[[Onex Corporation]]}}

| traded_as =

| founded = {{start date and age|1994|06|27}}

| commenced = {{start date and age|1996|02|29}}

| aoc = {{ubl|class=nowrap

| headquarters = [[Calgary]], [[Alberta]], [[Canada]]

| frequent_flyer = WestJet Rewards

| subsidiaries = {{ubl|class=nowrap

| alliance =

| fleet_size = 180 (including [[WestJet Encore|Encore]]) <ref name="fleet"/>

| destinations = [[List of WestJet destinations|104]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/airline/WS | title=WestJet on ch-aviation.com | website=ch-aviation.com | access-date= 21 November 2023}}</ref>

| operating_income = {{decrease}} CAN$155&nbsp;million (2018)

| net_income = {{decrease}} CAN$91&nbsp;million (2018)

| num_employees = 14,000 (May 2024)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/the-westjet-group-says-annyeong-haseyo-to-south-korea-with-first-flight-between-calgary-and-seoul-872111636.html | title=The WestJet Group says Annyeong-haseyo to South Korea with first flight between Calgary and Seoul | website=Cision Canada | access-date= 18 May 2024}}</ref>

| website = {{URL|www.westjet.com}}

In May 2023, WestJet expanded its reach further with the acquisition of [[Sunwing Airlines|Sunwing]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=WestJet Group completes acquisition of Sunwing |url=https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/news/2023/westjet-group-completes-acquisition-of-sunwing |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=www.westjet.com |language=en}}</ref> a Canadian leisure airline. This integration is expected to be completed by October 2024, bringing Sunwing's staff and aircraft under the WestJet banner.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

In March 2020, WestJet suspended all international flights,<ref>{{cite news|title=WestJet to suspend all international and U.S. flights for 30 days starting Sunday|url=https://business.financialpost.com/transportation/airlines/westjet-to-suspend-all-international-and-u-s-flights-for-30-days-starting-march-22|publisher=National Post|date=17 March 2020}}</ref> resulting in widespread workforce adjustments. Approximately half of the employees, totaling 6,900, were laid off on March 24.<ref>{{citation|title=WestJetters step up to minimize layoffs during COVID-19 crisis|url=https://blog.westjet.com/westjetters-step-up-to-minimize-layoffs-during-covid-19-crisis/|publisher=WestJet|date=24 March 2020}}</ref> Subsequently, on April 9, WestJet temporarily rehired 6,400 employees through the federal wage subsidy program (CEWS).<ref>{{cite news|title=WestJet plans to use federal wage subsidy to rehire 6,400 employees|url=https://calgaryherald.com/business/air-canada-to-use-federal-wage-subsidy-to-re-hire-employees-westjet-still-evaluating/|publisher=Calgary Herald|date=9 April 2020}}</ref> Additional layoffs followed, with approximately 8,000 employees between April and June,<ref>{{cite news|title='Last resort': WestJet laying off 1,700 pilots|url=https://calgaryherald.com/business/last-resort-westjet-laying-off-1700-pilots/|publisher=Calgary Herald|date=17 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=WestJet to lay off 3,000 more employees as demand for service craters|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/westjet-layoffs-1.5541755|publisher=CBC|date=22 April 2020}}</ref> as part of a restructuring plan, leaving only 4,500 employees on the payroll. Prior to the pandemic, WestJet employed over 14,000 individuals.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stephenson |first1=Amanda |title=WestJet employee head count down to 25% of pre-COVID levels |url=https://calgaryherald.com/business/westjet-employee-head-count-down-to-25-of-pre-covid-levels |access-date=28 January 2023 |work=Calgary Herald |date=22 April 2020 |language=en-CA}}</ref> By February 2021, the company laid off an additional 250 staff members due to ongoing travel restrictions.{{cn|date=June 2024}} 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.

In June 2024, WestJet's aircraft mechanic union launched a three-day strike, forcing over 1000 flights being cancelled in the lead up to the Canada Day long weekend.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Maimann |first=Kevin |date=2024-07-01 |title=WestJet cancellations continue after mechanics' strike ends, frustrating and confusing travellers |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/westjet-cancellations-continue-1.7251644 |work=CBC News}}</ref> In October 2024, WestJet will be transitioning all [[WestJet Link]] routes from Link to Encore, ending the airline’s six-year capacity purchase agreement with [[Pacific Coastal Airlines]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=WestJet transitions WestJet Link routes to WestJet Encore for fall 2024 |url=https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/news/2024/westjet-transitions-westjet-link-routes-to-westjet-encore-for-fa |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=www.westjet.com |language=en}}</ref> 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-seat [[De Havilland Canada Dash 8|Bombardier Q400]], as opposed to Pacific Coastal's 34-seat [[Saab 340|Saab 340B]].

* [[Air Transat]]{{cn|date=June 2024}}

* [[Virgin Atlantic]]{{cn|date=June 2024}}

On July 19, 2018, WestJet and Delta Air Lines signed a definitive ten-year agreement into a joint venture between the two airlines.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.delta.com/delta-and-westjet-create-new-transborder-joint-venture|title=Delta and WestJet to create new transborder joint venture &#124; Delta News Hub|access-date=January 8, 2021}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Shepardson|first=David|date=2020-11-21|title=Delta, WestJet scrap planned joint venture after U.S. demands|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-delta-air-westjet-idUSKBN28105J|access-date=2021-04-12}}</ref> Delta and WestJet have, however, agreed to reciprocal elite member benefits for their respective frequent flier programs.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

| rowspan="2" |139

|Former [[Swoop (airline)|Swoop]] aircraft.<br> 139 aircraft to be transferred from [[Sunwing Airlines]].

|2627

|2120

|5 additional aircraft to be leased.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

|1112

!133131

!129128

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 or [[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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/westjet-widebodied-expansion-1.3921395|title=With pilots deal, WestJet set to expand long-haul flights|last=Johnson|first=Tracy|work=CBC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106144611/http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/westjet-widebodied-expansion-1.3921395|archive-date=January 6, 2017|url-status=live|date=2017-01-05|access-date=2017-01-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=WestJet to pursue more widebody aircraft following pilots' approval|last=Karp|first=Aaron|work=Air Transport World|date=2016-12-27|url=http://atwonline.com/airlines/westjet-pursue-more-widebody-aircraft-following-pilots-approval|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229152118/http://atwonline.com/airlines/westjet-pursue-more-widebody-aircraft-following-pilots-approval|archive-date=December 29, 2016|access-date=2017-01-08|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

WestJet's aircraft are painted white except for the lettering on the fuselage, wings and [[vertical stabilizer]], except for special examples as noted below.

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 [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]], featuring [[Mickey Mouse]] from the movie [[Fantasia (1940 film)|''Fantasia'']] and adopting the name "Magic Plane". A second Disney aircraft was completed in 2015, named "[[Frozen (2013 film)|''Frozen'']] Plane", with characters Elsa and Anna on the vertical stabilizer and a similar theme in the cabin.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blog.westjet.com/disney-frozen-themed-plane/|title=Our second custom-painted aircraft, inspired by Disney's Frozen|author=Hounstow, Greg|publisher=WestJet|date=2015-10-10|access-date=2015-10-19}}</ref> Following the new CEO's decision, the Disney aircraft were repainted into the normal livery in 2024.

*August 9, 2023 - WestJet Flight 346, a Boeing 737-700 (registration C-FWSI) flying from [[CFB Comox|Comox Valley Airport]], collided with a [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] [[CC-130 Hercules|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.{{cn|date=June 2024}}