WestJet made this announcement:

Today, in support of National Women in Aviation Week and International Women’s Day, WestJet released its WestJet Women in Aviation: Committed to Change video, emphasizing the need to increase the numbers of women who have careers in aviation.

WestJet has the third-highest percentage* of female pilots in North America for a global airline, at seven per cent, while the industry average is five per cent. With commercial aviation growing rapidly and opportunities opening across a range of careers, the airline acknowledges it is critical to increase the number of women in the flight deck, below the wing in technical positions and at the boardroom table.

In 2020, WestJet will focus on actively reducing the gender gap on its global leadership team and is launching a new Women in Leadership Program designed to facilitate the growth and development of managers. WestJet has also partnered with Elevate Aviation to support Elevate’s mission to create a shift in the aviation industry and promote gender balance by connecting women with a network of support.

“We need more visibility of women succeeding in various roles within the industry,” said Ashlee Tanner, WestJet, Manager, Fleet Engineering. “The aviation industry is diverse in opportunities and we need to do a better job of reflecting that.”

Throughout Women in Aviation Week from March 2-8, 2020 and International Women’s Day on March 8, 2020, WestJet will feature and recognize women in leadership, aviation and technical operations positions within its organization.

Monday, March 2 – WestJet Women in Aviation:  Committed to Change video
Tuesday, March 3 – Ashlee Tanner, WestJet, Manager, Fleet Engineering
Wednesday, March 4 – Patricia Gauthier, WestJet Regional Manager, International Airports
Thursday, March 5 – Colleen Tynan, WestJet, Director of Contact Centre
Friday, March 6 – Rose Streete, WestJet, Cabin Crew Member
Saturday, March 7 – Virginia Svilans, WestJet, 737 First Officer
Sunday, March 8 – All female WestJet flight 1516 (YYC-PHX), WestJet Encore flight 3163 (YYC-YLW), Ed Sims, WestJet, President and CEO, International Women’s Day Feature

These feature pieces will be available across WestJet’s channels and online at Westjet.com/womeninaviation.

More information on careers at WestJet is available here.

WestJet announced its summer schedule featuring more than 90 new flights from Calgary including new nonstop WestJet Link service to Dawson Creek, B.C.

With today’s announcement of the new service between Calgary and Dawson Creek, B.C., WestJet Link will operate five routes including between Calgary and Cranbrook, Lethbridge, Lloydminster and Medicine Hat and one between Cranbrook and Vancouver this summer. WestJet Link operations between Calgary and Prince George, B.C., will shift to year-round service on WestJet Encore’s 78-seat Q400 aircraft effective April 26.

In addition, beginning May 14, 2020 WestJet will begin new service between Calgary and Boston. WestJet is offering guests convenient flight times between its extensive hub out of Calgary and the capital of Massachusetts.

WestJet also recently announced new four-times weekly service between Calgary and Charlottetown starting June 25, 2020.

The schedule also highlights frequency increases from Calgary to popular destinations including Portland, Ore., Victoria, Nanaimo, Comox, Grand Prairie, Fort McMurray, Brandon, Winnipeg, Abbotsford and Yellowknife.

Highlights of WestJet’s 2020 summer schedule include:
Domestic:

• Calgary–Dawson Creek, B.C., new daily WestJet Link service begins April 26, 2020
• Calgary–Winnipeg, an increase of seven weekly flights
• Calgary–Victoria, an increase of seven weekly flights
• Calgary–Nanaimo, an increase of seven weekly flights
• Calgary-Grand Prairie, an increase of seven weekly flights
• Calgary–Abbotsford, an increase of five weekly flights
• Calgary–Fort McMurray, an increase of five weekly flights
• Calgary–Comox, an increase of four weekly flights
• Calgary–Brandon, from seven times weekly to 11 times weekly
• Calgary–Yellowknife, from twelve times weekly to 14 times weekly
• Calgary–Charlottetown, new four-times weekly seasonal service begins June 25, 2020

Transborder:

• Calgary–Portland, from once daily to twice daily for a total of 14 weekly flights
• Calgary–Boston, new daily seasonal service begins May 14, 2020

International:

• Calgary–Paris, from four-times weekly to six-times weekly
• Calgary–Rome, new three-times weekly service begins May 2, 2020
• Calgary–Cabo San Lucas, from twice-weekly to three-times weekly

The airline has added more than 300 Dreamliner (above) departures out of Calgary in 2020, an increase of more than 52 percent over 2019, to key transatlantic Dreamliner routes. The flights are uniquely and conveniently timed in the interest of Albertans and western Canadians with late-day departures and daytime arrivals to suit guests travelling to Europe.

Dawson Creek is WestJet’s 72nd destination out of Calgary, WestJet’s home and largest hub. By June 2020, the airline will operate more than 1000 flights per week in peak season out of Calgary International Airport. More Calgarians choose WestJet for their air travel than any other airline.

WestJet aircraft photo gallery:

WestJet made this announcement:

Following Boeing’s announcement regarding the 737-MAX aircraft, WestJet today announced it will be updating its schedule to remove the aircraft through to June 24, 2020. Any affected guests will be proactively contacted once work is complete.

WestJet has completed more than 98 per cent of its planned departures even while its 13 MAX aircraft remain on the ground.

WestJet aircraft photo gallery:

WestJet today is bridging new domestic connections between the east and the west with the introduction of new nonstop seasonal service between Charlottetown, P.E.I., and Calgary beginning June 25, 2020.

WestJet’s seasonal service between Charlottetown Airport (YYG) and Calgary International Airport (YYC) will operate four-times weekly on WestJet’s 737 aircraft. Flights are timed for convenient connectivity from WestJet’s largest hub in Calgary to destinations across Western Canada including Vancouver, Edmonton, Kelowna and Victoria. The seasonal flight concludes September 7, 2020.

WestJet has served Prince Edward Island and the city of Charlottetown since 2005 and flights have more than doubled since introducing service. This summer, the airline will offer more than 67,000 seats to YYG, an increase of more than 20,000 from last year and in peak season will operate up to 20 flights per week from Charlottetown to Toronto and Calgary.

By June 2020 from Calgary, WestJet’s hub and home, the airline will operate more than 1000 flights per week in peak season to 57 destinations out of Calgary International Airport. More Calgarians choose WestJet for their air travel than any other airline.

Details of WestJet’s service between Charlottetown and Calgary:

WestJet aircraft photo gallery:

WestJet is forging another connection across the Atlantic into the United Kingdom with the announcement of new nonstop service between Halifax, N.S., and Manchester U.K. beginning June 5, 2020. This summer, WestJet will operate more than 300 seasonal departures from Halifax to London (Gatwick) and Glasgow, Scotland.

WestJet’s seasonal service between Halifax Stanfield (YHZ) and Manchester Airport (MAN) will operate four-times weekly on the airline’s Boeing 737-700. Flights are timed for convenient connectivity across WestJet’s network into and out of Halifax.

WestJet has served Halifax since 2003 and has seen 300 per cent growth in flights to and from Halifax Stanfield and now serves 16 cities with an average of 60 daily inbound and outbound flights per day from Halifax.

Details of WestJet’s service between Halifax and Manchester, U.K.:

WestJet today released its Christmas Miracle video, To Give or Receive, highlighting real acts of giving and receiving, with a twist.

This year, families visiting a market in Toronto were invited into a life-size WestJet blue Santa hat for an experience they would never forget. WestJet left it up to them, with help from a holographic, interactive Blue Santa and his newest co-star, Ebeniza Scrooge, to determine whether to give or receive the presents waiting under the Christmas tree.

“The conversation around giving and receiving is a powerful one and this year’s video finds inspiration in both sides of the story,” said Richard Bartrem, WestJet Vice-President Marketing Communications. “The authentic reactions and emotions made possible through these acts make this year’s Christmas Miracle truly heartwarming.”

With presents like a $2,500 WestJet gift card, a beach vacation and more, the choice was up to Canadians to either give the gift to families with sick children staying at a Ronald McDonald House or keep it for themselves. There were no wrong answers and the touching moments are captured in the WestJet Christmas Miracle video here.

WestJet is committed to keeping families close when a child is sick by providing the gift of flight to its WestJet Cares for Kidspartner Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada. To Give or Receive participants who chose to donate their gift were also invited to join a special celebration at Ronald McDonald House Charities South Central Ontario in Hamilton, Ont.

“For over 10 years, our incredible partners at WestJet have helped us keep families from across Canada close together during a very difficult time in their lives,” said Cathy Loblaw, CEO, RMHC Canada. “We are so humbled by the generosity of Canadian families who chose to donate their gifts to Ronald McDonald House families this holiday season, giving them the greatest gift of all: family.”

WestJet created the magical Christmas experience for participants by working alongside partners ARHT Media Inc., leaders in holographic telepresence, who created the projections of Blue Santa and Ebeniza Scrooge.

“The incredible hologram technology allowed us to create immersive and personalized experiences in real-time,” continued Bartrem. “We wish guests and WestJetters throughout our network a merry Christmas.”

To find out more about WestJet Cares for Kids and its partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities® Canada click here. For information on Ronald McDonald House Charities® Canada visit their website here.

WestJet today announced that western Canadians looking to visit Rome, Italy will now have seasonal nonstop service on the airline’s state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner, starting May 2, 2020, subject to government approvals.

WestJet seasonal service between Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino (FCO) and Calgary International Airport (YYC) will operate three-times weekly in peak season. Flights are timed for convenient connections across WestJet’s network in North America, including to and from Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

The airline today also announced it is adding more than 300 Dreamliner departures, an increase of more than 52 per cent over 2019, to key transatlantic Dreamliner routes out of Calgary including:

• Calgary-London (Gatwick) six-times weekly starting April 4, 2020, increases to daily service April 14, 2020.
• Calgary-Paris starting March 12, three-times weekly, increases to four-times weekly April 6, and to six times weekly on June 2, 2020. This is an additional two weekly flights over summer 2019.
• Calgary-Dublin resumes twice-weekly service on May 3, 2020 and increases to three-times weekly flights on May 30, 2020.

Details of WestJet’s Dreamliner service between Rome and Calgary

Details of WestJet’s enhanced Dreamliner service between Calgary and London, Paris and Dublin

WestJet aircraft photo gallery: