The WestJet Group and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the certified union representing WestJet and Swoop pilots, today announced they have reached a tentative agreement on the second collective bargaining agreement between the organizations. Both parties now await the ratification vote to be put forward to membership.
The WestJet Group is ramping up its operations as quickly and efficiently as possible, however the full resumption of operations will take time. Guests remain encouraged to continue to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport.
WestJet Airlines Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 C-FNWD (msn 60517) BFI (Brian Worthington). Image: 960499.
WestJet on May 11 celebrated the announcement of its nonstop transborder service between Winnipeg and Atlanta. The new route will commence on September 6, 2023, operating five times weekly, on a year-round basis. The new route which will unlock direct connectivity between Manitoba to the southeast United States and beyond while furthering the airline’s commitment to boosting economic growth by significantly strengthening the province’s air access.
Route
Start Date
Frequency
Departure
Arrival
Winnipeg – Atlanta
September 6, 2023
5x weekly
9:00 a.m.
13:09 a.m.
Atlanta – Winnipeg
September 6, 2023
5x weekly
14:00 p.m.
16:20 p.m.
Delta codeshare partnership
Guests travelling beyond Atlanta will have access to a broad network and benefits through WestJet’s strong relationship with Delta Air Lines. This includes codeshare flights to over 50 connecting destinations now accessible with only one stop from Winnipeg, the ability to earn and redeem WestJet Rewards on both airlines and top tier frequent flyer benefits through the entire journey.
WestJet guests have access to Delta’s broad network on a single purchased ticket with check-in for all flights at the first departure, baggage tagged to their final destination and lounge access for select guests.
WestJet’s service announcement between Winnipeg and Atlanta comes less than a year after the airline announced direct service between Manitoba’s capital and Los Angeles. Since beginning service between Winnipeg to Los Angeles in October 2022, WestJet has seen consistently strong demand for transborder travel.
Top Copyright Photo: WestJet Airlines Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 C-FNWD (msn 60517) BFI (Brian Worthington). Image: 960499.
WestJet on April 30 celebrated the departure of flight WS80 from YYC Calgary International Airport to Tokyo’s NaritaInternational Airport.
Tokyo service will operate on the airline’s 787 Dreamliner three times per week through October 28, and will return in Spring 2024. Guests travelling between Calgary and Tokyo can expect an elevated experience onboard including Western and Japanese inflight meals, Japanese entertainment options and the comfort of Japanese announcements and menus.
Route
Frequency
Departure
Arrival
Calgary – Tokyo (Narita)
3x weekly
15:10
16:15 (next day)
Tokyo (Narita) – Calgary
3x weekly
18:15
12:15
Top Copyright Photo: WestJet Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner C-FAJA (msn 64982) AMS (Ton Jochems). Image: 960153.
WestJet Cargo and the GTA Group announced a long-term partnership that will support the expansion and growth of domestic cargo opportunities for both businesses. Beginning in 2022, WestJet Cargo is partnering with the GTA Group to increase shipping capacity using four dedicated Boeing 737-800NG freighters operated by WestJet, to fulfill overnight express cargo service out of WestJet’s Toronto hub.
WestJet’s 737-800NG narrow body aircraft is perfectly suited to serve the overnight express freight community offering increased flexibility and frequency. Quick to fill and fly, with among the best fuel efficiency in the cargo category, these freighters will provide the partnership a competitive cost advantage. In addition to dedicated freighters, WestJet Cargo will further support the GTA Group’s service through WestJet’s existing cargo business in the bellies of its commercial fleet.
Founded in 2001 and based out of Toronto, Ontario, the GTA Group of companies offers a diverse array of aviation related services ranging from ground service equipment maintenance, rental and sales to ground and cargo handling, ecommerce and cargo sales.
WestJet Cargo on March 20, 2023 announced that it has received Transport Canada’s approval and official certification of its four 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters (BCF). Following certification, WestJet Cargo and the GTA Group will expeditiously implement three freighters into service, as dedicated aircraft that will fulfill the large-scale needs of businesses, freight forwarders, shippers and individual customers across North America. The fourth of WestJet Cargo’s dedicated freighters is expected to join the accompanying fleet later this year, following the completion of its conversion.
Top Copyright Photo: WestJet Cargo (WestJet Airlines) Boeing 737-804 (F) WL C-FTWJ (msn 32904) YYZ (TMK Photography). Image: 960375.
Aero Design Labs (ADL) has announced the first revenue flight in Canada with its proprietary drag reduction kit installed, with a WestJet Boeing 737-700 aircraft operating from Calgary to Toronto on March 20, 2023.
As part of the testing and certification process, WestJet was the first airline in the world to install and operate with an ADL drag reduction kit on its aircraft. This milestone follows the Transport Canada issuance of a Supplemental Type Certificate for ADL’s drag reduction kit for installation on the Boeing 737-700 aircraft in December 2022.
WestJet 737-700 with Aero Design Labs drag reduction kit
Photo credit: Alex Praglowski
Through the use of proprietary computational fluid dynamics analysis, ADL’s drag reduction kits reduce the amount of drag on the aircraft which results in a reduced fuel burn and lowered CO2 emissions.
WestJet Cargo today announced that it has received Transport Canada’s approval and official certification of its four 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters (BCF).
Following certification, WestJet Cargo and the GTA Group will expeditiously implement three freighters into service, as dedicated aircraft that will fulfill the large-scale needs of businesses, freight forwarders, shippers and individual customers across North America. The fourth of WestJet Cargo’s dedicated freighters is expected to join the accompanying fleet later this year, following the completion of its conversion.
Boeing 737-800F
Seamlessly integrating into WestJet Cargo’s existing operations and operated by WestJet’s highly skilled 737 pilots, the dedicated freighters will initially focus service within North America, serving Calgary, Halifax, Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles and Miami.
Leveraging its quick to load and fly narrow body aircraft, the 737-800 equipped with CFM56-7Bengines will enable WestJet Cargo to offer greater fuel efficiency, flexibility and frequency for its customers, beginning April 22, 2023.
The WestJet Group issued a statement following the Government of Canada’s issuance of an order finding that the proposed acquisition of Sunwing Vacations and Sunwing Airlines is in the public interest, taking into account certain measures.
“We are pleased that the regulatory review of the transaction is now complete,” said Angela Avery, WestJet Group Executive Vice-President and Chief People, Corporate & Sustainability Officer. “We thank the Minister of Transport and the Commissioner of Competition, and the staff of Transport Canada, the Competition Bureau, and the Canadian Transportation Agency, for their efforts to review the transaction.”
The issuance of the order is an important milestone in the process toward closing the transaction.
Top Copyright Photo: Sunwing Airlines Boeing 737-86J SSWL C-FWGH (msn 37752) YYZ (TMK Photography). Image: 959330.
WestJet Airlines Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 C-FQGG (msn 65426) PAE (Nick Dean). Image: 960212.
WestJet has announced significant increases to its summer schedule bringing more seats and additional flight frequencies to popular routes across its network. With nearly 600 daily departures during peak travel days, WestJet’s summer schedule enhancements will bring more opportunities for Canadians to travel seamlessly across the airline’s domestic, transborder and international network this summer.
Highlights of WestJet’s summer schedule increases over 2022:
64 per cent increase in seat capacity to/from Regina
46 per cent increase in seat capacity to/from Saskatoon
44 per cent increase in seat capacity to/from Edmonton
42 per cent increase in seat capacity to/from Winnipeg
27 per cent increase in seat capacity to/from Calgary
13 per cent increase in seat capacity to/from Kelowna
5 per cent increase in seat capacity to/from Vancouver
Enhanced flight frequencies across popular domestic and transborder routes:
Route
2023 peak summer frequency
2022 peak summer frequency
Edmonton – Las Vegas
11x weekly
4x weekly
Edmonton – Los Angeles
7x weekly
4x weekly
Calgary – Denver
4x weekly
2x weekly
Calgary – Houston
13x weekly
7x weekly
Calgary – New York (JFK)
7x weekly
4x weekly
Vancouver – Saskatoon
7x weekly
4x weekly
Vancouver – Ottawa
11x weekly
5x weekly
Calgary – Yellowknife
14x weekly
7x weekly
Calgary – Windsor
7x weekly
3x weekly
Calgary – London, Ont.
14x weekly
7x weekly
Calgary – Montreal
20x weekly
13x weekly
Edmonton – Kelowna
35x weekly
27x weekly
Edmonton – Winnipeg
20x weekly
6x weekly
Edmonton – Yellowknife
7x weekly
3x weekly
Edmonton – Saskatoon
14x weekly
6x weekly
Edmonton – Regina
14x weekly
6x weekly
Edmonton – Victoria
20x weekly
13x weekly
Edmonton – Halifax
13x weekly
7x weekly
Winnipeg – Thunder Bay
13x weekly
7x weekly
Winnipeg – Saskatoon
12x weekly
7x weekly
Top Copyright Photo: WestJet Airlines Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 C-FQGG (msn 65426) PAE (Nick Dean). Image: 960212.
WestJet Airlines Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 C-FXWJ (msn 60546) FLL (Tony Storck). Image: 960054.
WestJet has unveiled 20 new routes and three new destinations to the airline’s summer schedule. Offering a comprehensive network of connectivity between Western Canada and the United States, WestJet’s summer network additions feature new nonstop service to Washington Dulles, Detroit and Minneapolis/St. Paul, with new routes added to Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Nashville and Seattle/Tacoma.
WestJet will increase its service up to nearly 30 percent in Calgary, 50 percent in Edmonton and 10 percent in Vancouver when compared to 2022.
Expanded U.S. network with more routes and increased access to Delta hubs
This summer WestJet will introduce Minneapolis/St. Paul, Detroit and Washington D.C. (Dulles), to its network, in addition to investing in new routes and restoring service to an expansive list of U.S. destinations.
Through its longstanding partnership with Delta Air Lines, guests connecting through Minneapolis/St. Paul and Detroit will gain access to two more of the U.S. airline’s major hubs. Building on WestJet’s current service to Delta hubs, including Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York, and Seattle/Tacoma, WestJet guests will now have access to over 150 U.S. destinations on a single purchased ticket with check-in for all flights at the first departure, baggage tagged to their final destination and lounge access for select guests. Additionally, frequent flyers of both airlines will continue to enjoy extensive reciprocal benefits any time they fly with either carrier, including earning and redeeming in their preferred program.
Highlights of WestJet’s summer 2023 transborder and international service
Destination
Start Date
Peak Season Frequency
Departure Time
Arrival Time
Calgary – Austin*
May 18
2x weekly
09:40
14:30
Calgary – Chicago*
May 18
4x weekly
12:15
16:40
Calgary – Detroit1
May 26
5x weekly
12:35
18:05
Calgary – Washington D.C. (Dulles)
June 2
3x weekly
09:45
16:02
Edmonton – Minneapolis1
June 2
5x weekly
08:15
11:46
Edmonton – Seattle1
May 19
5x weekly
10:30
11:30
Vancouver – Atlanta1
May 17
4x weekly
22:25
06:05
Vancouver – Nashville
May 19
2x weekly
10:00
16:19
Vancouver – Orlando*
May 6
1x weekly
11:00
19:52
Winnipeg – Los Angeles3
Apr 30
3x weekly
07:00
08:38
Toronto – Bermuda3
May 5
2x weekly
07:00
10:42
*Resumption of service/ 1 Delta hub/ 3 Continuation of winter service
Enhancing nonstop west to east connectivity
As part of WestJet’s new strategic direction, the airline is taking strides to further provide guests with extensive opportunities to seamlessly and affordably travel across Canada. Substantially strengthening Canadian connectivity, WestJet is adding five new routes between Eastern and Western Canada, further positioning its network to support travel demands across the country.
Destination
Start Date
Peak Season Frequency
Departure Time
Arrival Time
Calgary – Moncton
June 14
3x weekly
09:15
16:49
Calgary – Thunder Bay*
June 29
3x weekly
14:00/15:45
18:36/20:21
Calgary – Quebec City*
May 19
4x weekly
17:55
23:55
Edmonton – Charlottetown
June 14
1x weekly
10:25
17:58
Edmonton – London
May 19
2x weekly
10:25
15:52
Edmonton – Moncton
June 29
2x weekly
10:25
17:57
Edmonton – Ottawa*
Apr 30
6x weekly
09:00
14:43
Edmonton – Montreal*
June 30
2x weekly
01:00
07:03
*Resumption of service
Bringing Western Canadian communities closer through a strengthened regional network
As Western Canada’s undisputed home-team carrier, WestJet is enhancing its aviation gateway for business and leisure travel opportunities by further strengthening regional connectivity with the resumption of non-stop flights and increased frequencies.
Destination
Start Date
Peak Season Frequency
Departure Time
Arrival Time
Calgary – Terrace*
May 1
4x weekly
09:40/14:10
10:58/15:28
Edmonton – Nanaimo*
April 30
2x weekly
10:30
11:29
Edmonton – Penticton*
July 1
2x weekly
11:00
11:27
Kelowna – Regina*
May 21
2x weekly
17:30
20:34
Kelowna – Saskatoon*
June 2
2x weekly
17:35
20:29
Kelowna – Winnipeg*
June 2
3x weekly
19:15
23:33
Vancouver – Regina*
Jun 30
2x weekly
20:45
23:47
Winnipeg – Victoria*
April 30
2x weekly
17:30
18:28
*Resumption of service
Top Copyright Photo: WestJet Airlines Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 C-FXWJ (msn 60546) FLL (Tony Storck). Image: 960054.
