Bombardier Aerospace (Montreal) and WestJet (Calgary) today (June 6) announced the delivery of the first of 20 DHC-8-402 (Q400) NextGen turboprop airliners ordered by WestJet. The aircraft will be operated by the new regional carrier, WestJet Encore (Calgary) and will serve multiple destinations, beginning in Western Canada in its first year of service. WestJet also holds options for 25 additionalQ400 NextGen aircraft.

Earlier this year, WestJet announced plans to begin service with Encore on June 24, 2013, opening new routes to Fort St. John and Nanaimo, British Columbia, as well as Brandon, Manitoba, on September 3, 2013. Flights to points in Alberta and Saskatchewan are to be added later this year, along with additional flights to cities already served by WestJet.

Today, Bombardier Aerospace hosted a special delivery ceremony in Toronto alongside more than 100 WestJetters, including Gregg Saretsky, President and Chief Executive Officer, WestJet and Ferio Pugliese, President, WestJet Encore, and Executive Vice-President, WestJet. Also on site in Toronto, where the Q400 NextGen airliners are manufactured, were Mike Arcamone, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft, Simon Roberts, Vice-President and General Manager, Turboprop Programs and the Toronto Site, Bombardier Aerospace and guests from the federal, provincial and municipal governments.

Top Copyright Photo: WestJet. Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) C-FOEN (msn 4440) “401” flies over Toronto’s downtown Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.

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Bottom Copyright Photo: Bombardier. C-FOEN has small WestJet Encore titles by the forward L1 door.

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