WestJet

This article is about the Canadian airline. For the American airline previously named WestJet Express, see Allegiant Air.

WestJet Airlines Ltd.
IATA ICAO Call sign
WS WJA[1] WESTJET[1]
FoundedJune 27, 1994; 30 years ago (1994-06-27)
Commenced operationsFebruary 29, 1996;
28 years ago (1996-02-29)
AOC #
  • Canada 8993[2]
  • United States WJ0F768F[3]
Hubs
Focus cities
Frequent-flyer programWestJet Rewards
Subsidiaries
Fleet size180 (including Encore) [5]
Destinations104[6]
Parent companyOnex Corporation
HeadquartersCalgary, Alberta, Canada
Key peopleAlexis von Hoensbroech (President & CEO)
Founders
Employees14,000 (May 2024)[7]
Websitewestjet.com

WestJet Airlines, founded in 1994 and headquartered in Calgary, Alberta,[8] is the second-largest airline in Canada.[9] It began operations in 1996 with 220 employees, three aircraft, and five destinations.[10] It was launched as a low-cost alternative to the country's major airlines.[11] Today, WestJet operates scheduled, charter, and cargo air service, transporting more than 25 million passengers per year.[12] The airline has a significant domestic and international network, which serves over 100 destinations across North America, Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and Central America.[13] WestJet has an average of 777[14] flights per day, solidifying its position as the eighth-largest airline in North America by frequency.

WestJet's fleet primarily consists of Boeing 737 aircraft (Next Generation and MAX families), which are well-suited for its extensive list of short and medium-haul routes. In 2015, WestJet begun offering long-haul flights which necessitated the acquisition of wide-body aircraft, and it took delivery of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner in 2019.[15][16]

WestJet has two direct subsidiaries: WestJet Encore,[17] which operates the Bombardier Q400 on routes in Western Canada, and WestJet Cargo which operates four Boeing 737-800BCF, which were previously used as WestJet passenger aircraft and converted for cargo use.

In December 2019, WestJet Airlines was acquired by Kestrel Bidco Inc., a subsidiary of Onex Corporation. This acquisition resulted in WestJet transitioning from a publicly traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol "WJA" to a private company.[18]

In May 2023, WestJet expanded its reach further with the acquisition of Sunwing,[19] a Canadian leisure airline. This integration is expected to be completed by October 2024, bringing Sunwing's staff and aircraft under the WestJet banner.[citation needed]

WestJet is not a member of any major airline alliances,[20] such as Star Alliance, Oneworld, or SkyTeam. However, it utilizes codeshare and interline agreements with various airlines. These agreements allow WestJet to place its flight code on flights operated by other airlines, and vice versa.[21]

  1. ^ a b "ICAO Designators for Canadian Aircraft Operating Agencies, Aeronautical Authorities and Services" (PDF). Nav Canada. May 4, 2023. p. 8. Retrieved February 27, 2023. WestJet Airlines: WJA, WESTJET
  2. ^ Transport Canada (2019-08-28), Civil Aviation Services (CAS) AOC. wwwapps.tc.gc.ca.
  3. ^ "Federal Aviation Administration - Airline Certificate Information - Detail View". av-info.faa.gov. Archived from the original on March 29, 2020. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  4. ^ Sherif, Omar. "Westjet says it will make Calgary its global hub in announcing pact with province". cbc.ca. cbc. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference fleet was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "WestJet on ch-aviation.com". ch-aviation.com. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  7. ^ "The WestJet Group says Annyeong-haseyo to South Korea with first flight between Calgary and Seoul". Cision Canada. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  8. ^ "[1]." CAPA. Retrieved on October 3, 2017. "WestJet Airline Profile."
  9. ^ "Back to Basics: How Alexis von Hoensbroech is Steering WestJet's Transformation". Business Traveler USA. December 5, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  10. ^ "Our history". www.westjet.com. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  11. ^ "Canadian Low-Cost Carrier Departs From No-Frills Model". Wall Street Journal. July 28, 2015. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  12. ^ "WestJet 2018 Annual Report" (PDF). Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  13. ^ "Route map". www.westjet.com. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  14. ^ "WestJet unveils its Dreamliner 'Spirit of Canada' to the world". Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  15. ^ "WestJet Flights and Destinations - FlightConnections". www.flightconnections.com. April 28, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  16. ^ "Our aircraft". www.westjet.com. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  17. ^ "De Havilland Dash 8-400 (Q400)". www.westjet.com. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  18. ^ "WestJet Stock Is No Longer Listed: Here's How to Bet on it Anyway!". Yahoo Finance. August 26, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  19. ^ "WestJet Group completes acquisition of Sunwing". www.westjet.com. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  20. ^ Matt (February 26, 2024). "Airlines Partners of WestJet (updated February 26, 2024)". Pointshogger. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  21. ^ "Our airline partners". www.westjet.com. Retrieved April 28, 2024.