Summary
- WestJet Cargo offers discounted shipping rates to select university students and staff across Canada for personal belongings.
- The Campus’Air initiative aims to support the academic community by providing affordable and reliable shipping solutions.
- WestJet Cargo’s fleet of Boeing 737-800 aircraft can transport nearly 3 tons of cargo per flight, including perishable items.
On Tuesday, July 9, WestJet Cargo, part of WestJet Airlines, announced that it was launching a new initiative called Campus’Air aimed at students attending a university at a Canadian school. The initiative also includes staff who work or teach at Canadian universities. WestJet Cargo will offer discounts for students and staff who are in need of shipping personal belongings across the country.
Discounted freight rates
Specifically, the Campus’Air initiative offers both university students and university staff discounts on domestic shipping rates. However, only current students and staff at select participating universities are eligible. The list of participating schools includes:
- University of Calgary
- University of Lethbridge
- University of Alberta
- University of British Columbia & Okanagan
- Ambrose University
- Concordia University
- McGill University
- Universite de Montreal
- Concordia University of Alberta
Other universities are eligible to join the program in the future, so WestJet encourages other colleges to sign up and participate. The Executive Vice President of WestJet Cargo, Kirsten De Bruijn, spoke about the new initiative, stating,
“At WestJet Cargo, we recognize the unique challenges faced by students and university staff in transporting their personal belongings. Campus’Air is our way of supporting the academic community, providing them with an affordable, reliable shipping solution that underscores our commitment to fostering education and community development across Canada.”
WestJet Cargo has stated that this discount will ensure that shipping personal belongings will remain affordable for those in the academic community. The discounted rates are a 50% discount on published freight rates for domestic shipments onboard WestJet Cargo operations. Shipping quotes can be obtained by contacting the WestJet Cargo contact center. Shipments are typically sent to their destination in 24 hours once the initial shipment is processed, subject to flight availability.
Various personal belongings are not eligible for the Campus’Air program. This includes items with permanent batteries, like personal laptops, live animals, high-value items, or perishable items.
About WestJet Cargo
WestJet Airlines began flying cargo operations in April 2023. WestJet Airlines formed its cargo-focused subsidiary after it converted several of its older passenger aircraft into cargo aircraft. Currently, the WestJet Cargo fleet consists of four Boeing 737-800 aircraft, each of which is a passenger-to-cargo aircraft conversion. Per Air Cargo News, these aircraft are capable of flying nearly 3 tons of cargo per flight. These can also be fitted to hold perishable items.
Photo: WestJet
Currently, the cargo airline offers many different routes across Canada and North America. Along with the airline’s designated cargo aircraft, WestJet Cargo also offers shipments onboard WestJet passenger aircraft. This opens up the possibility of shipments being included in the cargo hold of the belly of the plane. This expands the routes that cargo shipments can travel, as WestJet Airlines has a much more significant route network due to the over 130 aircraft that the airline operates. WestJet Airlines also operates across the world, opening up cargo shipments to travel to locations including Cuba, France, Mexico, Japan, Spain, and the United Kingdom, among others.