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{{Infobox_Airline |
airline=WestJet|
logo=WestJet Logo.svg|
logo_size=250|
IATA=WS|
ICAO=WJA|
callsign=WESTJET|
parent=|
slogan=It's nicer up here.|
founded=1996|
headquarters=[[Calgary]], [[Alberta]]|
key_people=[[Sean Durfy]] ([[Chief executive officer|CEO]],<small>President</small>)<br>
[[Clive Beddoe]], (Chairman of the [[Board of Directors]], <small>Co-Founder</small>)|
focus_cities=
<div>
*[[Calgary International Airport]]
*[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]]
*[[Vancouver International Airport]]
*[[Edmonton International Airport]]
*[[Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport]]
</div>|
|frequent_flyer =
|lounge=[https://www.westjetlounges.com/en/index.asp Executive Lounges] operated by [[Servisair]]|
alliance=|
fleet_size= 77 (+44 orders)|
destinations= 55|
website= http://www.westjet.com|}}
[[Image:WestJet 737-700 at YUL.jpeg|thumb|A WestJet [[737-700|Boeing 737-700]]]]

'''WestJet Airlines Ltd.''' ({{TSX|WJA}}) is a [[Canada|Canadian]] [[low-cost carrier]]<ref>{{cite press release |title=WestJet Third Quarter Results
|publisher=WestJet
|date=[[2008-11-13]]
|url=http://www.westjet.com/pdffile/WestJet2008Q3.pdf
|pages = pp. 3,10
|accessdate=2009-01-02 }}</ref> based in [[Calgary]], [[Alberta]], that flies to most major cities in Canada and serves destinations in the [[United States]], [[Mexico]] and the [[Caribbean]]. WestJet is the second largest Canadian carrier behind [[Air Canada]]<ref>{{Citation
| title = WestJet, Air France, KLM work toward code-share
| newspaper = USA Today
| year = 2009
| date = [[2009-02-05]]
| url = http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2009-02-05-westjet-codeshare_N.htm?csp=34
| accessdate = 2009-02-23}}</ref>. WestJet is a rarity in the airline industry in that it is non-unionized. [[Profit sharing|Profit-sharing]] is credited for this fact. WestJet plans to be one of the world's top five most profitable international airlines, by 2016.<ref>{{Citation
| title = WestJet aims to become 'top five' global carrier
| newspaper = Toronto Star
| year = 2007
| date = [[2007-06-12]]
| url = http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/224147
| accessdate =2009-02-23}}
</ref>

WestJet is a public company with over 6,200 employees<ref>{{cite press release |title=WestJet Third Quarter Results
|publisher=WestJet
|date=[[2008-11-13]]
|url=http://www.westjet.com/pdffile/WestJet2008Q3.pdf
|pages = p.6
|accessdate=2009-02-23 }}</ref> and 1.2 billion USD market capitalization.<ref name=zenobank>{{cite web |url=http://zenobank.com/index.php?symbol=CA;WJA&page=quotesearch |title=Company Profile for WestJet Airlines Ltd (CA;WJA) |accessdate=2008-10-10}}</ref>
==History==
Founded on February 29, 1996 by [[Clive Beddoe]], Mark Hill, Tim Morgan and Donald Bell, WestJet aimed to follow the same path as [[Southwest Airlines]] and [[Morris Air]], as a low-cost carrier. The airline was originally intended to operate solely in a [[Western Canada]], hence its name.

===First Flights===
On February 29, 1996, the first WestJet flight (a [[Boeing 737]]) departed. At that time, the airline served [[Calgary]] (the airline's home city and headquarters), [[Edmonton]], [[Kelowna]], [[Vancouver]], and [[Winnipeg]] with a fleet of three [[Boeing 737#737-200|Boeing 737-200]] aircraft and two-hundred twenty employees. By the end of that same year, they had included [[Regina, Saskatchewan|Regina]], [[Saskatoon]], and [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]]. In 1997, service to [[Abbotsford, British Columbia|Abbotsford]] was added. In addition, 1997 marked the one millionth passenger carried.

In July of 1999, WestJet made its [[initial public offering]] of stock at 1.5 million shares, opening at $10 per share<ref>{{cite news
| title = WestJet IPO makes a strong debut
| publisher = CBC News
| date = [[1999-07-13]] (Modified [[2000-11-10]])
| url = http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/1999/07/13/westjet990713.html
| accessdate = 2009-02-23}}</ref>. The same year, the cities of [[Thunder Bay]], [[Grande Prairie, Alberta|Grande Prairie]], and [[Prince George, British Columbia|Prince George]] were added to WestJet's route map.

===Expansion===
In 2000, the airline expanded to Canada's [[Eastern Region|eastern region]], reaching [[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]], [[Moncton]], and [[Ottawa]], and choosing Hamilton as the centre of the airline's eastern Canadian operations. In 2001, expansion continued to include [[Fort McMurray, Alberta|Fort McMurray]] and [[Comox, British Columbia|Comox]]. WestJet also added [[Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario|Sault Ste. Marie]], [[Greater Sudbury|Sudbury]], [[Thompson, Manitoba|Thompson]] and [[Brandon, Manitoba|Brandon]], although service to these four cities was subsequently withdrawn. In 2002, the airline added two new eastern Canadian destinations: the cities of [[London, Ontario|London]] and [[Toronto]]. In April 2003, WestJet added [[Windsor, Ontario|Windsor]], [[Montreal]], [[Halifax Regional Municipality|Halifax]], [[St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador|St. John's]], and [[Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador|Gander]].

WestJet entered into a two-year agreement with [[Air Transat]] in August 2003 whereby WestJet 737 aircraft would be filled by Transat's two main tour operators, World of Vacations and Air Transat Holidays. The planes were operated by WestJet crews. The agreement between WestJet and Air Transat was amicably terminated in February, 2009. <ref>{{cite press release
|title=Transat and WestJet agree amiably to terminate air transportation agreement
|publisher=WestJet
|date=[[2009-02-13]]
|url=http://micro.newswire.ca/release.cgi?rkey=1702138323&view=87295-2&Start=0 |accessdate=2009-02-21 }}</ref>

===Legal troubles===
In 2004, the airline was accused by rival Air Canada of espionage, specifically accessing Air Canada [[Trade secret|confidential information]] via a private website in order to gain a business advantage, and sued in Ontario Superior Court.<ref>{{Citation
| title = Air Canada suing WestJet
| newspaper = The Globe and Mail
| date = [[2004-04-06]]
| url = http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040406.waircan0406/BNStory/Business/
| accessdate = 2009-02-23 }}</ref> On [[May 29]], [[2006]], the two companies issued a joint [[News release|press release]], with WestJet admitting to the charges leveled by Air Canada. WestJet agreed to pay $5.5 million dollars in legal and investigation fees to Air Canada, and to donate $10 million to various children's charities in the name of Air Canada and WestJet.<ref>{{cite press release
| title = WestJet and Air Canada Issue Joint Press Release
| publisher = Marketwire
| date = [[2006-05-29]]
| url = http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Westjet-596729.html
| accessdate = 2009-02-23}}</ref>

===Expansion to the US, Caribbean and Mexico===
In January of 2004, WestJet announced that it was moving the focus of its eastern operation 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 of Toronto Pearson International Airport<ref>{{cite news
| title = WestJet shifts operations to Toronto from Hamilton
| publisher = CBC News
| date = [[2004-01-14]]
| url = http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2004/01/14/westjet_040114.html
| accessdate = 2009-02-22}}</ref>.

In 2004, a number of [[United States|U.S.]] destinations were added or announced. These included [[San Francisco]], [[Los Angeles]], [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]], [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]], [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida|Fort Lauderdale]], [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]], and [[LaGuardia International Airport|New York City]]<ref>{{cite news
| title = WestJet to begin flying to U.S cities in October
| publisher = CBC News
| date = [[2004-02-04]]
| url = http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2004/02/04/westjet_040204.html
| accessdate = 2009-02-22}}</ref>.

[[Palm Springs, California|Palm Springs]] was added in early 2005 to the company's list of destinations, as was [[San Diego]], while New York-LaGuardia was dropped. In April 2005, they announced new seasonal service to [[Charlottetown]] but ceased service to Gander. In June 2005, the airline announced it was ceasing service to Windsor, effective October 30, 2005, shifting capacity to nearby London. In fall 2005, [[Fort Myers, Florida|Ft. Myers]] and [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]] were added to the growing list of destinations.

After rumours and speculation surrounding the implementation of [[ETOPS/LROPS|extended-range twin-engine operations]] (ETOPS), WestJet announced new service to the [[Hawaii|Hawaiian Islands]] from Vancouver on September 20, 2005. In December 2005, the airline began flying from Vancouver to [[Honolulu]] and [[Maui]].

In 2006, WestJet announced they were dropping their service to San Francisco and San Diego. WestJet's first scheduled service outside Canada and the United States began in 2006 with service to [[Nassau, 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 2007, WestJet announced that they would begin flights from [[Deer Lake Airport (Newfoundland)|Deer Lake Regional Airport]] in Newfoundland, [[Saint John, New Brunswick|Saint John]] in New Brunswick, and [[Kitchener-Waterloo]] in Ontario. Also in June 2007, WestJet added seven new international seasonal flights to [[Saint Lucia]], [[Jamaica]], the [[Dominican Republic]], [[Mexico]] as well as a third Hawaiian destination; [[Kona]]. Also in 2007, WestJet commissioned the construction of a new head office building, next to their existing hangar facility at the Calgary International Airport. The new office building is slated to open in 2009, and the first employees moved in the first quarter of the year.

In May 2008, WestJet launched service to Quebec City with daily non-stop flights from Toronto and one-stop service from Edmonton. On June 2, 2008, WestJet commenced seasonal service between [[Calgary]] and [[New York City]] via [[Newark Liberty International Airport]].

===Code-sharing agreements===
In July 2008, WestJet announced a partnership and [[code-sharing]] agreement with [[Southwest Airlines]], followed in November with a similar agreement with Hawaii-based [[Mokulele Airlines]].<ref>{{cite press release
| title = WestJet and Southwest Airlines Announce Signing of Agreement
| publisher = Marketwire
| date = [[2008-07-08]]
| url = http://cnrp.ccnmatthews.com/client/westjet/releaseen.jsp?actionFor=876480&year=2008&releaseSeq=2
| accessdate = 2009-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release
| title = WestJet and Mokulele announce partnership
| publisher = WestJet
| date = [[2008-12-08]]
| url = http://micro.newswire.ca/release.cgi?rkey=1612088048&view=87295-2&Start=0
| accessdate = 2009-02-23}}</ref>

==Current status==
[[Image:Westjet Boeing 737.jpg|thumb|left|A departing WestJet Boeing 737-800]]

In 2005, WestJet implemented [[In-flight Entertainment|Personal TV (PTV)]] from [[LiveTV]] on board its 737-700 and -800 fleet. Channels include [[Global TV]], [[CTV Television Network|CTV]], [[CBS]], [[Citytv]], [[Treehouse TV]], [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], [[NBC]], [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]], [[The Sports Network|TSN]] and a WestJet Channel, which shows a regional map with the aircraft's location, [[GPS]] derived altitude, and [[groundspeed]].{{fact|date=September 2008}} WestJet added Live TV onto their 737-600 aircraft beginning in the 2007/2008 Winter season; every aircraft in their fleet now comes equipped with the system.

WestJet was to be the Boeing launch customer for the 737-600
[[Wingtip device|winglets]], but announced in their Q2 2006 results that they were not going to move ahead with those plans. WestJet CEO Clive Beddoe cited the cost and time associated with their installation was not warranted as they are primarily used for short-haul routes. As a result of the abandonment of the program to install winglets on these aircraft, WestJet incurred a one-time charge of approximately $609,000.

In August 2006, in a [[The Globe and Mail|Globe and Mail]] interview, Sean Durfy stated that WestJet was in talks with [[Oneworld]], a code and route sharing alliance that includes many large worldwide airlines including [[British Airways]] and [[American Airlines]]. Durfy said that, if a deal with Oneworld were reached, it would allow WestJet to maintain its scheduling flexibility;<ref>{{Citation
| last = Jang
| first = Brent
| title = WestJet Looks to Fly Higher with Oneworld
| newspaper = The Globe and Mail
| year = 2006
| date = [[2006-08-31]]
| url = http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060831.wxrwestjet31/BNStory/Business/home
| accessdate = 2006-10-31}}</ref> Durfy was later quoted in 2007 saying that a deal for WestJet to join the Oneworld alliance was unlikely.<ref>{{Citation
| title = WestJet says link up with alliance not likely
| newspaper = Toronto Star
| date = [[2007-06-06]]
| url = http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/222012
| accessdate = 2009-02-23 }}</ref> Despite this, WestJet did formalize a deal with Oneworld in November 2008, to partner on sales of travel to corporate and business travelers. In the press release announcing the agreement, WestJet and Oneworld stressed that the airline was not joining the alliance.<ref>{{cite press release
| title = oneworld and WestJet introduce global travel program for businesses in Canada
| publisher = WestJet
| date = [[2008-11-04]]
| url = http://micro.newswire.ca/release.cgi?rkey=1611044863&view=87295-2&Start=0
| accessdate = 2009-02-23}}</ref>

On October 26, 2006, WestJet announced that it had its best quarterly profit ever, reaching C$52.8 million. WestJet gained [[market share]] and kept its costs under control, helping profits to surge.

==Future==
In 2009, WestJet plans for an extensive codeshare agreement with [[Southwest Airlines]] allowing for expanded travel within the United States, and with [[KLM]] and [[Air France]] for travel to Europe.<ref>{{cite press release
| title = WestJet, Air France and KLM Announce Signing of Memorandum of Understanding
| publisher = WestJet
| date = [[2009-02-04]]
| url = http://micro.newswire.ca/release.cgi?rkey=1702045639&view=87295-2&Start=0
| accessdate = 2009-02-23}}</ref> In the Spring of 2009, the airline will launch four new seasonal destinations to the cities of
[[Yellowknife]], [[Northwest Territories]], [[Sydney, Nova Scotia]], as well as a resumption of service to [[San Diego, California|San Diego]] and [[San Francisco, California]]. WestJet will also introduce their own frequent flyer program in 2009, to better compete with [[Air Canada]].<ref>{{Citation
| last = Jang
| first = Brent
| title = WestJet files new initiatives in flight plan
| newspaper = The Globe and Mail
| year = 2008
| date = [[2008-12-30]]
| url = http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060831.wxrwestjet31/BNStory/Business/home
| accessdate = 2009-02-23}}</ref>

==Destinations==
WestJet currently flies to 51 destinations throughout North America, including 28 cities in Canada and another 12 in the United States. The airline will add its 29th and 30th Canadian destinations with the addition of [[Sydney, Nova Scotia]] and [[Yellowknife]], [[Northwest Territories]] in May 2009. [[San Diego, California|San Diego]] and [[San Francisco]], [[California]] will be the company's 13th and 14th American destinations, with service to both commencing in June 2009.

WestJet's largest focus city, in terms of daily departures, is its home base at [[Calgary International Airport]], with [[Toronto Pearson International Airport]] being the airline's second-largest focus city, and main connection point in eastern Canada. The airline also has a strong presence at [[Edmonton International Airport]], [[Vancouver International Airport]] and [[Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport]].

WestJet serves major American airports such as [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[Las Vegas McCarran International Airport]] and [[Newark Liberty International Airport]]; the latter on a seasonal basis. The airline provides the most Canadian flights to [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]] and [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]], offering non-stop routes (some of them seasonal) from nine Canadian cities to Las Vegas and eight to Orlando. WestJet also serves seven destinations in the Caribbean and four in Mexico, some on a seasonal basis.

{| class="collapsible wikitable collapsed" style="width: 80%; border: #999 solid 1px; text-align: lcenter; margin-bottom: 0; margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
! colspan="5" style="background: #00938f;"| '''WestJet Destinations'''
|- style="font-weight:bold; background-color:lightgrey"
| '''Province\State\Country'''
| '''City'''
| '''Airport'''
| '''Notes'''
|- style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#DDDDDD"
| colspan="4" style="text-align: center;"| [[Canada]]
|-
| rowspan="4"| {{flag|Alberta}}
|[[Calgary]]
|[[Calgary International Airport]]
|'''Focus City'''
|-
|[[Edmonton]]
|[[Edmonton International Airport]]
|'''Focus City'''
|-
|[[Fort McMurray, Alberta|Fort McMurray]]
|[[Fort McMurray Airport]]
|
|-
|[[Grande Prairie, Alberta|Grande Prairie]]
|[[Grande Prairie Airport]]
|
|-
| rowspan="7"|{{flag|British Columbia}}
|[[Abbotsford, British Columbia|Abbotsford]]
|[[Abbotsford International Airport]]
|
|-
|[[Comox, British Columbia|Comox]]
|[[Comox Airport]]
|
|-
|[[Kamloops]]
|[[Kamloops Airport]]
|
|-
|[[Kelowna]]
|[[Kelowna International Airport]]
|
|-
|[[Prince George, British Columbia|Prince George]]
|[[Prince George Airport]]
|
|-
|[[Vancouver]]
|[[Vancouver International Airport]]
|'''Focus City'''
|-
|[[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]]
|[[Victoria International Airport]]
|
|-
|{{flag|Manitoba}}
|[[Winnipeg]]
|[[Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport]]
|'''Focus City'''
|-
|rowspan="2"|{{flag|New Brunswick}}
|[[Moncton]]
|[[Greater Moncton International Airport]]
|
|-
|[[Saint John, New Brunswick|Saint John]]
|[[Saint John Airport]]
|''Seasonal''
|-
|rowspan="2"|{{flag|Newfoundland and Labrador}}
|[[Deer Lake, Newfoundland and Labrador|Deer Lake]]
|[[Deer Lake Airport (Newfoundland)|Deer Lake Airport]]
|''Seasonal''
|-
|[[St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador|St. John's]]
|[[St. John's International Airport]]
|
|-
|{{flag|Northwest Territories}}
|[[Yellowknife]]
|[[Yellowknife Airport]]
|''Seasonal; Begins May 4''
|-
|rowspan="2"|{{flag|Nova Scotia}}
|[[Halifax Regional Municipality|Halifax]]
|[[Halifax Stanfield International Airport]]
|
|-
|[[Sydney, Nova Scotia|Sydney]]
|[[Sydney Airport (Nova Scotia)|Sydney Airport]]
|''Seasonal; Begins May 5''
|-
|rowspan="6"|{{flag|Ontario}}
|[[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]]
|[[John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport]]
|
|-
|[[Kitchener-Waterloo]]
|[[Region of Waterloo International Airport]]
|
|-
|[[London, Ontario|London]]
|[[London International Airport]]
|
|-
|[[Ottawa]]
|[[Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport]]
|
|-
|[[Thunder Bay]]
|[[Thunder Bay International Airport]]
|
|-
|[[Toronto]]
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]]
|'''Focus City'''
|-
|{{flag|Prince Edward Island}}
|[[Charlottetown]]
|[[Charlottetown Airport]]
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|{{flag|Quebec}}
|[[Montreal]]
|[[Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport]]
|
|-
|[[Quebec City]]
|[[Québec/Jean Lesage International Airport]]
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|{{flag|Saskatchewan}}
|[[Regina, Saskatchewan|Regina]]
|[[Regina International Airport]]
|
|-
|[[Saskatoon]]
|[[Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport]]
|
|- style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#DDDDDD"
| colspan="4" style="text-align: center;"| [[United States]]
|-
|{{flag|Arizona}}
|[[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]]
|[[Sky Harbor International Airport]]
|''Seasonal''
|-
|rowspan="4"|{{flag|California}}
|[[Los Angeles]]
|[[Los Angeles International Airport]]
|
|-
|[[Palm Springs, California|Palm Springs]]
|[[Palm Springs International Airport]]
|''Seasonal''
|-
|[[San Diego]]
|[[San Diego International Airport]]
|''Seasonal; Begins June 1''
|-
|[[San Francisco]]
|[[San Francisco International Airport]]
|''Seasonal; Begins June 2''
|-
|rowspan="4"|{{flag|Florida}}
|[[Fort Lauderdale, Florida|Fort Lauderdale]]
|[[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport]]
|
|-
|[[Fort Myers, Florida|Fort Myers]]
|[[Southwest Florida International Airport]]
|
|-
|[[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]]
|[[Orlando International Airport]]
|
|-
|[[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]]
|[[Tampa International Airport]]
|
|-
|rowspan="3"|{{flag|Hawaii}}
|[[Honolulu]]
|[[Honolulu International Airport]]
|
|-
|[[Kahului, Hawaii|Kahului]]
|[[Kahului Airport]]
|
|-
|[[Kailua, Hawaii County, Hawaii|Kona]]
|[[Kona International Airport]]
|''Seasonal''
|-
|{{flag|Nevada}}
|[[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]]
|[[McCarran International Airport]]
|
|-
|{{flag|New Jersey}}
|[[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]]
|[[Newark Liberty International Airport]]
|''Seasonal''
|- style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#DDDDDD"
| colspan="4" style="text-align: center;"| [[Mexico]]
|-
|{{flag|Baja California Sur}}
|[[San José del Cabo]]
|[[Los Cabos International Airport]]
|
|-
|{{flag|Jalisco}}
|[[Puerto Vallarta]]
|[[Lic. Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport]]
|
|-
|{{flag|Sinaloa}}
|[[Mazatlán]]
|[[General Rafael Buelna International Airport]]
|
|-
|{{flag|Quintana Roo}}
|[[Cancún]]
|[[Cancún International Airport]]
|''Seasonal''
|- style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#DDDDDD"
| colspan="4" style="text-align: center;"| [[Caribbean]]
|-
|{{flag|Bahamas}}
|[[Nassau, Bahamas|Nassau]]
|[[Lynden Pindling International Airport]]
|
|-
|{{flag|Barbados}}
|[[Bridgetown]]
|[[Grantley Adams International Airport]]
|''Seasonal''
|-
|rowspan="3"|{{flag|Dominican Republic}}
|[[La Romana, La Romana|La Romana]]
|[[La Romana International Airport]]
|''Seasonal''
|-
|[[San Felipe de Puerto Plata]]
|[[Gregorio Luperón International Airport]]
|''Seasonal''
|-
|[[Punta Cana]]
|[[Punta Cana International Airport]]
|
|-
|{{flag|Jamaica}}
|[[Montego Bay]]
|[[Sir Donald Sangster International Airport]]
|
|-
|{{flag|Saint Lucia}}
|[[Vieux-Fort]]
|[[Hewanorra International Airport]]
|''Seasonal''
|-
|}

=== New routes ===
<center>
{| class="toccolours" border="1" cellpadding="3" style="border-collapse:collapse"
|+ ''' New WestJet routes '''
|- bgcolor=#00938f
!Route
!Start Date
|-
|Ottawa{{ndash}} Cancun <ref>{{cite press release
| title = Introducing non-stop flights from the capital to Cancun
| publisher = WestJet
| date = [[2009-01-27]]
| url = http://micro.newswire.ca/release.cgi?rkey=1701273072&view=87295-2&Start=0
| accessdate = 2009-02-23}}</ref>
|[[March 4]]
|-
|Vancouver{{ndash}} Saskatoon <ref name=autogenerated2>
{{cite press release
| title = WestJet: Here Comes the Sun
| publisher = Marketwire
| date = 2008-07-29
| url = http://cnrp.ccnmatthews.com/client/westjet/releaseen.jsp?actionFor=883633&year=2008&releaseSeq=0
| accessdate = 2009-02-23}}</ref>
|[[May 3]]
|-
|Vancouver{{ndash}} Regina <ref name=autogenerated2 />
|[[May 3]]
|-
|Vancouver{{ndash}} Fort McMurray <ref name=autogenerated2 />
|[[May 3]]
|-
|Toronto{{ndash}} Fort McMurray <ref name=autogenerated2 />
|[[May 3]]
|-
|Edmonton{{ndash}} Yellowknife <ref name=autogenerated2 />
|[[May 4]]
|-
|Toronto{{ndash}} Sydney, NS <ref name=autogenerated2 />
|[[May 5]]
|-
|Vancouver{{ndash}} London, ON <ref name=autogenerated2 />
|[[May 11]]
|-
|Halifax{{ndash}} London, ON <ref name=autogenerated2 />
|[[May 11]]
|-
|Calgary{{ndash}} San Diego <ref name=autogenerated2 />
|[[June 1]]
|-
|Calgary{{ndash}} San Francisco <ref name=autogenerated2 />
|[[June 2]]
|-
|}
</center>

==Fleet==
[[Image:CYYCWestjetTerminalNorth.jpg|right|thumb|WestJet Airlines at [[Calgary International Airport]]]]

The WestJet fleet consists of the following aircraft:
<center>
{| class="toccolours" border="1" cellpadding="3" style="border-collapse:collapse"
|+ '''WestJet Fleet'''
|- bgcolor=#00938f
!Aircraft
!Total
!Passengers
!Notes
|-
|[[Boeing 737#737 Next Generation|Boeing 737-600]]
|13
|119
|PTVs and leather seats
|-
|[[Boeing 737#737 Next Generation|Boeing 737-700]]
|56
|136
|PTVs and leather seats, Winglets
|-
|[[Boeing 737#737 Next Generation|Boeing 737-800]]
|8
|166
|PTVs and leather seats, Winglets
|-
|}
</center>
The airline flies a fleet that consists exclusively of [[Boeing 737]]s, taking a cue from the successful single operating type model pioneered by [[Southwest Airlines]]. The first 737-700 delivery took place in 2001, and the first deliveries of 737-600 and 737-800 aircraft began in 2005, with the final 737-600 aircraft delivered in September 2006. WestJet's future aircraft orders only consist of 737-700 and 737-800 models. WestJet plans to have a fleet of 111 aircraft by the end of 2013.

Boeing confirmed on August 2, 2007 that WestJet had placed an order for 20 [[Boeing 737#737 Next Generation|Boeing 737NG]]. The order is primarily for B737-700 but with conversion rights to B737-800s. <ref>{{cite press release
| title = Boeing Confirms WestJet Order for 20 Next-Generation 737 Airplanes
| publisher = The Boeing Company
| date = [[2007-08-02]]
| url = http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2007/q3/070802c_nr.html
| accessdate = 2009-02-23}}</ref>

===Retired fleet===
* [[Boeing 737#737 Original|Boeing 737-200]] (1996-2006)

It was announced early in 2005 that the 737-200 fleet would be retired within the year, to be replaced by newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft. On July 12, 2005, WestJet announced that it had completed the sale of its remaining [[Boeing 737#737 Original|Boeing 737-200]] to Miami-based Apollo Aviation Group (Apollo).

On January 9, 2006, the last Boeing 737-200 (Tail 748 C-FCWJ) was flown during a [[Flypast|fly-by]] ceremony at the WestJet hangar in Calgary. (See External Links). The aircraft was flown by Don Bell. The last commercial revenue flight by a -200 was a [[Charter airline|charter flight]], Las Vegas to Calgary, arriving at 0130 January 9, 2006, flown by tail 741 (C-GWWJ).

In 2003, WestJet donated a 737-200 to the [[British Columbia Institute of Technology]] (BCIT). Currently it is located in the BCIT Aerospace Campus beside the Vancouver International Airport.<ref>{{cite press release
| title = WestJet donates 737-200 aircraft to BCIT Aerospace
| publisher = British Columbia Institute of Technology
| date = [[2003-10-01]]
| url = http://www.bcit.ca/news/releases/newsrelease100103101.shtml
| accessdate = 2009-02-23}}</ref>

== In-flight service==
WestJet includes a [[buy on board]] meal service program with sandwiches, alcoholic beverages, and some snacks for purchase. In some markets, the sandwiches offered onboard are made by local delis in the departure city (such as the Bread Garden in Vancouver, Spolumbo's in Calgary, and DiRienzo's in Ottawa). Some snacks and non-alcoholic beverages are available for free.<ref>{{cite web
| title = Inflight Experience: Buy on Board
| publisher = WestJet
| url = http://c5dsp.westjet.com/guest/buyOnBoard.jsp
| accessdate = 2009-02-23 }}</ref>

WestJet is famous for its fun and friendly staff - or owners as its commercials state. For the past few years on April 1st, WestJet has issued 'joke' press releases as part of [[April Fool's Day]]; such as everyone holding their arms out-stretched on takeoff or the introduction of 'sleeper cabins' in overhead bins <ref>{{cite press release
| title = WestJet Introduces Sleeper Cabins
| publisher = WestJet
| date = [[2008-04-01]]
| url = http://micro.newswire.ca/release.cgi?rkey=1604014168&view=87295-2&Start=0
| accessdate = 2009-02-22}}</ref>

==Livery==
[[Image:WestJet-Boeing-737-YVR.jpg|thumb|right|A WestJet Boeing 737 on approach to [[Vancouver International Airport]]]]
The WestJet planes are mostly white, except for the lettering on the cabins, the tail, and the metallic wings and [[tailfins]].

The tail is divided into rough and slanted thirds, coloured (from back to front) navy blue, white, and teal. This pattern is used on the outside of the [[Wingtip device|blended winglets]] at the end of the wings, while on the inside, the winglets are painted white with the words '''WestJet.com''' in black lettering.

==WestJet Lounges==
Beginning in 2006, WestJet began opening lounges in select Canadian airports. They are operated by [[Servisair]].<ref>[https://www.westjetlounges.com/en/index.asp Executive Lounges Servisair<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
*[[Calgary International Airport]] (Concourse D)
*[[Vancouver International Airport]] (Domestic Terminal)
*[[Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport]]

==Incidents and accidents==
* On [[September 6]] [[2007]], a WestJet Boeing 737-700 aircraft en route to Halifax from Calgary encountered sudden turbulence just north of [[Sudbury, Ontario]], causing a sharp drop which injured 9 passengers. The plane carried on to Halifax and landed without incident.<ref>{{cite news
| title = At least 8 injured as WestJet flight hits turbulence
| publisher = CTV News
| date = [[2007-09-06]]
| url = http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070906/plane_turbulence_070906?s_name=&no_ads=
| accessdate = 2009-02-22 }}</ref>
* On [[February 17]] [[2008]], a WestJet Boeing 737-700 aircraft over-ran runway 07 at Ottawa (YOW) and slid into a snowbank. No injuries were reported and the [[Transportation Safety Board of Canada]] is investigating the cause.<ref>{{cite news
| last = Kaminski-Morrow
| first = David
| title = No injuries after Westjet 737 overruns at Ottawa
| publisher = Flightglobal
| date = [[2008-02-08]]
| url = http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/02/18/221638/no-injuries-after-westjet-737-overruns-at-ottawa.html
| accessdate = 2009-02-23 }}</ref>

==Awards and recognitions==

*In 2000, Clive Beddoe, Mark Hill, Tim Morgan and Donald Bell were given the ''Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year'' award in Canada for their contribution to the Canadian [[Airline|airline industry]]<ref>[http://www.ey.com/global/content.nsf/Canada/Entrepreneur_Of_The_Year_-_Recipients Entrepreneur of the Year - Recipients], ''Ernst & Young''. Accessed 2009-02-22.</ref>.
*In 2005, 2006 and 2007, WestJet was named ''Canada's Most Admired Corporate Culture'' by Waterstone Human Capital in its annual survey of senior executives of Canada's largest companies.<ref>[http://www.waterstonehc.com/resources/Culture.pdf 2005 Canadian Corporate Culture Study], ''Waterstone Human Capital'', Accessed 2009-02-22.</ref><ref>[http://www.waterstonehc.com/content/subpage.asp?menuid=10&itemid=22 2006 Canada's 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures], ''Waterstone Human Capital'', Accessed 2009-02-22.</ref><ref>[http://www.waterstonehc.com/content/subpage.asp?menuid=10&itemid=30 2007 Canada's 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures], ''Waterstone Human Capital'', Accessed 2009-02-22.</ref><ref>[http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2008/16/c8728.html WestJet Tops List of Canada's 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures], Press release, ''CNW Group'', Accessed 2009-02-22.</ref>
*In October 2008, WestJet was named one of [[Alberta's Top Employers]] by Mediacorp Canada Inc., which was announced by the [[Calgary Herald]] and the [[Edmonton Journal]].<ref>{{Citation
| title = Alberta’s top 40 places to work
| newspaper = Calgary Herald
| year = 2008
| date = [[2008-10-18]]
| url = http://working.canada.com/top100/alberta/story.html?id=995670e2-94e3-42a9-b045-83ff735daee6
| accessdate = 2009-02-23}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<center><gallery>
Image:Westjetpsp.JPG|[[Boeing 737]] at Palm Springs
Image:Westjetykf.JPG|[[Boeing 737]] at Kitchener/Waterloo
Image:WestJet 737-700 Leaving Pearson.jpg|Leaving Toronto
Image:Westjet737 700atYQR.jpg|[[Boeing 737]]-700 arriving at [[Regina International Airport]]
</gallery></center>

===Trivia===
Two WestJet Boeing 737-200 aircrafts were featured in the Disney Channel movie [[Snow Dogs]].

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://www.westjet.com WestJet official website]
*[http://www.up-magazine.com up! inflight magazine]

{{Airlines of Canada}}

[[Category:S&P/TSX Composite Index]]
[[Category:Air Transport Association of Canada]]
[[Category:WestJet]]
[[Category:Low-cost airlines]]
[[Category:Companies based in Calgary]]
[[Category:Airlines established in 1996]]
[[Category:Airlines of Canada]]
[[Category:Canadian brands]]

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Revision as of 09:17, 27 February 2009

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