5 Milestones That Have Helped WestJet Become The Airline It Is Today

Canadian carrier WestJet Airlines is celebrating 30 years since its establishment this year. Throughout the decades, it has transformed into a major airline serving over 25 million passengers annually across a vast domestic and international network. The airline operates to nearly 120 destinations in Canada, Asia, the Caribbean, Central America, Europe, and the US. In addition to its passenger operations, the carrier also has charter and cargo air services.

While WestJet may be smaller than Air Canada, the carrier has a sizeable international and long-haul footprint, thanks to larger widebody jets. The airline has always been an all-Boeing operator for its mainline fleet – exclusively flying 737 family aircraft for years. However, as demand increased and the carrier grew alike, it expanded its fleet to the 767-300ER and now the 787-9 Dreamliner. Currently, the airline deploys nearly 200 narrow and widebody jets, from starting with just three planes.

1

First flight

WestJet was founded on June 29, 1994, by the carrier’s first Chief Executive Officer, Clive Beddoe, along with Mark Hill, Don Bell, and Tim Morgan, who were co-founders. As the team worked toward the airline’s first flight, WestJet was branded as a low-cost alternative to Canada’s major airlines.

Three 737s

Its inaugural flight took place on February 29, 1996, which it says was “a great leap forward to providing Canadians with affordable air travel.” From its first hub, established at Calgary International Airport (YYC), WestJet offered flights to Winnipeg, Edmonton, Vancouver, Victoria, and Kelowna, utilizing a fleet of three 737-200 aircraft and a team of 220 employees.

Photo: WestJet

2

International expansion

Over the next decade, WestJet would welcome its one millionth and three millionth guests onboard, earn more than a million dollars in annual sales, and launch its cargo operations with space dedicated to air shipping in the belly of its passenger aircraft. In 2004, the carrier introduced transborder service to several US destinations, such as New York City, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Palm Springs, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa, and San Francisco. Service to Nassau, Bahamas, was also launched a few years later, along with WestJet Vacations – its all-inclusive booking service for vacation packages.

737-200 retirement

In the following year, WestJet retired its 737-200 series aircraft. The carrier celebrated the aircraft’s legacy by offering discounted flights to its original five destinations, gifts for local children’s hospitals, and a fly-by performance at its hangar at YYC. WestJet had already begun to receive deliveries of the 737 Next Generation (NG) series in 2001 with its first 737-700, but subsequent deliveries of 737-600 and -800 aircraft began in 2005, making the carrier one of “North America’s most modern airlines.”

Photo: Elena Berd | Shutterstock

Growing the operation

Over the next five years, WestJet would acquire more than 30 aircraft and increase its route network to over 70 destinations.

3

100th Boeing 737 NG

In 2011, a passenger survey commended WestJet’s flight attendants for being named the best in the industry. The airline credited the inflight workers for “their friendly attitude and customer service.” It was also listed among MediaCorp’s Top 100 Employers in Canada, while Aon Hewitt named the airline one of the Best Employers in Canada. JD Power gave the carrier its Customer Service Champion Award.

Photo: Denver International Airport

In 2012, WestJet took delivery of its 100th 737 NG. The airline had also increased its destination count to 81. One of its 737-800s was unveiled in 2013 with a new magical Walt Disney World custom livery featuring Mickey Mouse in his role as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice. The livery celebrated WestJet’s partnership with the Central Florida theme park for years. The airline also unveiled another Walt Disney World-themed 737-800 in 2015. This aircraft showcased the three showstoppers from the animated musical fantasy film Frozen, released by Walt Disney Pictures. Due to WestJet ending its contract agreement with The Walt Disney Company, the carrier will sadly retire the two special liveries later this year.

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WestJet Encore

The airline launched its regional subsidiary, WestJet Encore, in 2013. This introduced eight De Havilland Dash 8-400 turboprops to its fleet for the first time. With more than 45 examples of the aircraft type, WestJet Encore is the world’s largest operator of the Dash 8-400, claiming the title after British regional airline Flybe went bankrupt and Alaska Airlines’ regional subsidiary Horizon Air retired the aircraft type last year.

Photo: Heather Dunbar | Shutterstock

4

Widebody operations

WestJet operated its first transatlantic flight to Dublin, Ireland, in 2014 with seasonal nonstop service. The following year, it acquired four 767-300ERs to cater to the growing transatlantic demand. The airline’s first widebody transatlantic service was launched in 2016 with service to London Gatwick Airport (LGW).

737 MAX 8 arrival

While expanding its widebody fleet, WestJet was dually focused on modernizing its narrowbody fleet. In 2017, it became the first airline in Canada to take delivery of the 737 MAX 8. The aircraft provides 14% more fuel efficiency compared to its 737 NGs, and is the quietest plane in its fleet.

Photo: Welshboy2020 | Shutterstock

The Dreamliner comes into the scene

Widebody fleet modernization followed in 2018 with the joint debut of WestJet’s first 787-9, and a new livery with a revised logo. That same year, the airline launched service to Paris, France. Retirement of the 767-300ERs ensued and was ultimately expedited by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Photo: CSWFoto | Shutterstock

5

Transpacific flights

Recovering from the global health crisis, WestJet announced in 2022 that YYC would become the base and connecting hub for its entire 787-9 fleet. The airline also confirmed a deal with Boeing to purchase 42 examples of the 737 MAX 10 with 22 additional purchase options. Its current fleet comprises 198 aircraft, including the 737-700, -800, MAX 8, and 787-9.

Japan & South Korea

In 2023, WestJet celebrated the launch of seasonal nonstop flights between Calgary and Tokyo, its very first Asian destination. This year, the carrier launched additional transatlantic and transpacific flights from YYC to:

• Reykjavik, Iceland
• Seoul, South Korea

Photo: WestJet

Despite its international footprint, WestJet is not a member of any of the major airline alliances – oneworld, SkyTeam, and Star Alliance. However, the airline has codeshare and interline travel agreements with carriers such as Aeromexico, Cathay Pacific, Delta Air Lines, Japan Airlines, and Korean Air.

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