Tag Archives: Boeing 737-8CT SSWL

WestJet statement regarding ALPA strike authorization vote

WestJet has issued the following statement regarding the Airline Pilots Association (ALPA) announcement that it has issued a strike authorization vote to WestJet pilots.

“A strike authorization vote is a common step by unions in context of the overall labor negotiation process,” said Ed Sims, WestJet President and CEO. “We remain focused on successfully negotiating an agreement that will benefit our pilots and WestJet.”

WestJet aircraft slide show:

WestJet to drop three trans-border routes

WestJet starting on June 27, 2018 is dropping three trans-border routes according to Airline Route:

Calgary – Chicago (O’Hare) on June 28

Calgary – Dallas/Fort Worth on June 27

Montreal (Trudeau) – Boston on June 27 (WestJet Encore)

WestJet aircraft slide show:

WestJet launches inaugural flights to Mexico City from Calgary and Vancouver

WestJet’s inaugural flight, WS2200 from Calgary International Airport (YYC) to Mexico City International Airport (Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez, MEX) departed this morning, March 14, 2018 marking the airline’s newest flight to Mexico. Flights between Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and Mexico City start March 15, solidifying WestJet’s position as the Canadian airline with the most flights to Mexico.

Starting on March 14, WestJet begins service with four weekly flights between Calgary and Mexico City. On March 15, WestJet will launch three-time weekly service between Vancouver and Mexico City. Effective April 29, both routes move to daily service.

WestJet first landed in Mexico in 2007 and now serves 11 cities in Mexico from 15 Canadian cities, offering more non-stop routes than any other Canadian airline. WestJet’s growth in Mexico makes up nearly 10 per cent of the airline’s available seat miles and at peak winter schedule, WestJet will operate up to 37 daily flights.

Details of WestJet’s Mexico City schedule:

Route	Frequency	Departing	Arriving	Effective
Calgary – Mexico City	Four times weekly	11:18 a.m.	4:20 p.m.	March 14, 2018
Mexico City – Calgary	Four times weekly	4:00 p.m.	9:35 p.m.	March 15, 2018
Calgary – Mexico City	Daily	10:10 a.m.	4:20 p.m.	April 29, 2018
Mexico City –Calgary	Daily	5:20 p.m.	9:40 p.m.	April 29, 2018
Vancouver – Mexico City	Three times weekly	8:50 a.m.	3 p.m.	March 15, 2018
Mexico City – Vancouver	Three times weekly	5:20 p.m.	10:05 p.m.	March 14, 2018
Vancouver – Mexico City	Daily	7:40 a.m.	3 p.m.	April 29 ,2018
Mexico City – Vancouver	Daily	4 p.m.	7:30 p.m.	April 29, 2018

Westjet aircraft slide show:

WestJet expands service from Vancouver

WestJet also announced that it has again enhanced its schedule and connectivity out of its Vancouver hub to key business and leisure destinations in Canada and Mexico, adding 60 more flights weekly.

Details of WestJet’s increased service from Vancouver:

An increase of 24 weekly flights between Vancouver and Calgary for a total of 16 times daily, with hourly service in both directions (top of the hour from Vancouver, and bottom of the hour from Calgary).
Vancouver-Edmonton from 50 to 59 times weekly (nine times each business day).
Vancouver-Calgary, from 88 to 112 times weekly (16 times daily).
Vancouver-Kelowna from 40 to 49 times weekly (seven times daily).
Vancouver-Ottawa from seven to 14 times weekly (twice daily).
Vancouver-Regina from six to seven times weekly (daily).
Vancouver-Fort St. John from six to 12 times weekly.
Vancouver-Victoria from 33 to 35 times weekly (five times daily).
Vancouver-Cancun, from two to three times weekly.
Vancouver-Cabo San Lucas from one to two times weekly.

As previously announced, on March 15, WestJet will launch three-time weekly service between Vancouver and Mexico City with the route moving to daily service on April 29.

Copyright Photo: WestJet Airlines Boeing 737-8CT SSWL C-GWSV (msn 37158) (Walt Disney World – Frozen) YVR (Rob Rindt). Image: 934210.

WestJet aircraft slide show:

WestJet enhances its Calgary and Edmonton schedule

WestJet on January 29, 2018 announced that it has again enhanced its schedule and connectivity out of its Calgary hub to key business and tourism destinations in Canada and the U.S., adding 72 more weekly flights. WestJet already offers more flights to more destinations from Calgary than any other airline, and these flight additions once again make YYC its largest hub.

Details of WestJet’s increased service from Calgary:

Calgary-Vancouver, from 88 to 112 times weekly (16 times daily), with hourly service in both directions (top of the hour from Vancouver, and bottom of the hour from Calgary).
Calgary-Nanaimo, from two to three times daily.
Calgary-Edmonton, from 66 to 79 times weekly (12 times each business day).
Calgary-Halifax, from 14 to 15 times weekly.
Calgary-Kelowna, from 45 to 47 times weekly (seven times each business day).
Calgary-Fort McMurray, 24 to 31 times weekly (five times each business day).
Calgary-Windsor, from six to seven times weekly (one time daily)
Calgary-Grande Prairie from 18 to 26 times weekly (4 times each business day)
Calgary-Montreal, from 19 to 20 times weekly.
Calgary-Abbotsford, from 33 to 35 times weekly (five times daily).
Calgary-Penticton, from 10 to 14 times weekly (two times daily).
Calgary-Victoria, from 35 to 36 times weekly (five times daily).
Calgary-Dallas/Ft. Worth, from six weekly to seven weekly (one time daily).
Calgary-Las Vegas, from 20 to 22 weekly.
Calgary-Palm Springs, from four to five weekly.

WestJet will begin serving Denver International Airport daily from Calgary International Airport starting March 8 and will launch four-time weekly service between Calgary and Mexico City on March 14. Service becomes daily starting April 29.

This summer, WestJet will operate an average of 137 daily flights from Calgary International Airport or five departures an hour on average. In the past 10 years, WestJet has increased capacity out of YYC by 48 per cent and accounts for 53 per cent of the seat capacity out of the city.

In addition to the above increases in Calgary, highlights of WestJet’s 2018 summer schedule include:

New nonstop daily service from Halifax to Paris and London (Gatwick).
The addition of almost 200 flights to WestJet’s hubs including 60 to Vancouver, 72 to Calgary and 28 to Toronto.
New nonstop four-time weekly service between Calgary and Whitehorse.
Additional flights from Edmonton to a number of transborder and domestic destinations including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Kelowna, Fort McMurray and Saskatoon.
Additional flights from Toronto to a number of sun destinations including Cancun, Montego Bay, Nassau, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana and Fort Myers.
Additional flights from Toronto to a number of Canadian destinations including Ottawa, Montreal, Saskatoon and Victoria.
An increase of nine new weekly flights between Toronto and Ottawa for a total of 13 times daily.
An increase of nine weekly flights between Toronto and Montreal for a total of 14 times daily.

This summer, WestJet will operate an average of 765 daily flights to 92 destinations including 43 in Canada, 22 in the United States, 23 in Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America, and four in Europe.

WestJet also announced that it has again enhanced its schedule and connectivity out of Edmonton International Airport (EIA) to key business and leisure destinations in Canada and the U.S., adding 23 weekly flights.

Details of WestJet’s increased service from Edmonton:

Edmonton-Calgary, from 77 to 86 times weekly (12 times each business day).
Edmonton-Vancouver, from 49 to 58 times weekly (nine times each business day).
Edmonton-Kelowna, from 48 to 49 times weekly (seven times daily).
Edmonton-Fort McMurray, from 24 to 25 times weekly.
Edmonton-Saskatoon, from 19 to 20 times weekly.
Edmonton-Las Vegas, from 10 to 11 times weekly.
Edmonton-Los Angeles from six to seven times weekly (once daily).

This summer, WestJet will operate an average of 62 daily flights from Edmonton International Airport. In the past 10 years, WestJet has increased capacity out of EIA by 52 per cent and now accounts for 73 per cent of the capacity out of the city, measured in available seat miles.

WestJet aircraft slide show:

American to end its relationship with WestJet

Earlier this month, Delta Air Lines and WestJet agreed to deepen their existing partnership by entering into a comprehensive transborder joint venture that will increase travel choices between the U.S. and Canada.

According to the announcement, “Delta and WestJet have entered into a preliminary memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding their intention to deepen their existing partnership to form a commercial joint venture arrangement, which will offer customers access to an extensive transborder route network, world-class airline products, enhanced frequent flyer benefits, shared airport facilities and amenities, and a more seamless travel experience.”

Probably as a result of this agreement, American Airlines is ending its codeshare relationship with WestJet effective on January 15, 2018.

In addition, both American and WestJet will end their frequent flyer partnership effective on July 31, 2018. American Airlines has announced July 31, 2018 will be the last day to fly and earn miles on WestJet.

Previously American Airlines and WestJet Airlines had launched a comprehensive codeshare agreement that gave customers of both airlines more choices and greater connectivity when travelling between the United States and Canada, as well as across American’s worldwide network.

This codeshare relationship allowed American to place its AA* code on WestJet flights, and WestJet to place its WS* code on flights of American Airlines. It is all ending because of Delta’s new interest in WestJet.

Bottom Line: United is aligned with Air Canada. Delta is now aligned with WestJet. American is out in the cold in Canada. Will American now look at some of the newly proposed Canadian carriers including Jetlines?

Top Copyright Photo: American Airlines Boeing 737-823 WL N947AN (msn 29536) LAX. Image: 933336.

American Airlines aircrat slide show (Boeing and Embraer):

Westjet:

Bottom Copyright Photo: WestJet Airlines Boeing 737-8CT SSWL C-FKRF (msn 60123) YYC (Ken Petersen). Image: 939576.

Delta and WestJet agree to form a joint venture

Delta Air Lines and WestJet have agreed to deepen their existing partnership by entering into a comprehensive transborder joint venture that will increase travel choices between the U.S. and Canada.

The airlines have entered into a preliminary memorandum of understanding regarding their intention to deepen their existing partnership to form a commercial joint venture arrangement, which will offer customers access to an extensive transborder route network, world-class airline products, enhanced frequent flyer benefits, shared airport facilities and amenities, and a more seamless travel experience.

Highlights of the planned joint venture arrangement, subject to board approvals, execution of definitive agreements and applicable regulatory approvals, in the United States and Canada, include:

Coordinated flight schedules for new nonstop flights to new destinations, expanded codesharing, and seamless and convenient connections on the airlines’ extensive networks in the U.S. and Canada.
Enhanced frequent flyer benefits including reciprocal benefits for top-tier members of both airlines.

Delta has a 25-year track record of partnering closely with airlines around the globe, beginning with the first successful trans-Atlantic partnership, when Northwest and KLM launched their joint venture in 1993. With this agreement, Delta will have eight partnerships with leading carriers in the world’s biggest aviation segments spanning Europe, Latin America, Asia, Australia and Canada. Through deep relationships and immunized joint ventures, Delta has successfully achieved many benefits of cross-border cooperation for its customers.

WestJet, Canada’s second-largest airline, currently has 45 airline partners providing access to more than 175 destinations in more than 20 countries. WestJet has also entered into a definitive purchase agreement for 10 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners with the first aircraft expected to be delivered in January 2019. With one of the youngest fleets in the airline industry, WestJet continues its global growth while controlling operating costs and providing an award-winning guest experience.

Top Copyright Photo: Delta Air Lines Boeing 737-832 WL N3751B (msn 30491) JFK (Jay Selman). Image: 402430.

Delta:

WestJet:

Bottom Copyright Photo: WestJet Airlines Boeing 737-8CT SSWL C-FBWI (msn 39090) PAE (Nick Dean). Image: 937235.

WestJet adds more sun routes and frequencies for the coming winter

WestJet Airlines (Calgary) has announced an additional 55 weekly nonstop flights this winter from Toronto Pearson International Airport to key domestic business destinations as well as popular sun spots in the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean. The service is part of the airline’s seasonal schedule for the winter of 2017-18.

Details of WestJet’s increased service from Toronto:

Toronto–Montreal, from 83 to 91 times weekly (14 times each business day).
Toronto–Ottawa, from 77 to 85 times weekly (13 times each business day).
Toronto–Vancouver, from 45 to 52 times weekly (eight times each business day).
Toronto–Calgary, from 56 to 68 times weekly, more than any other carrier (10 times each business day).
Toronto–Winnipeg, from 31 to 38 times weekly (six times each business day).
Toronto–Kelowna, from five to seven times weekly.
Toronto–Orlando, from 12 to 15 times weekly.
Toronto–Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, from 11 to 14 times weekly.
Toronto–Cancun, from 11 to 15 times weekly.
Toronto–Montego Bay, from 13 to 14 times weekly.
Toronto–Nassau, from seven to nine times weekly.
Toronto–Liberia, from four to five times weekly.
Toronto–Antigua, from two to three times weekly.
Toronto–Punta Cana, from six to seven times weekly.
Toronto-Puerto Plata, from five to six times weekly.

WestJet also announced the addition of dozens of new flights across Canada. The additional flights deliver optimized service for both the business and leisure traveller and give Canadians greater connectivity into and out of WestJet hubs in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto, providing more flight frequency between key routes, better scheduling and greater access from smaller airports into the wider WestJet network.

Highlights of WestJet’s 2017-18 winter schedule include:

New nonstop weekly service from Calgary to Belize City, Belize.
New nonstop weekly service from Edmonton and Vancouver to Huatulco.
Service from both Regina and Abbotsford to Puerto Vallarta will increase by one weekly flight for a total of twice weekly.
Additional flights from Edmonton to a number of domestic and international destinations including Cancun, Abbotsford and Victoria.
Additional flights from Calgary to a number of sun destinations including Cancun, Cabo San Lucas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Palm Springs and Puerto Vallarta.
Additional flights from Calgary to a number of domestic destinations including Kitchener, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Kelowna and Brandon.
Additional flights from Vancouver to a number of domestic and international destinations including Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Fort St. John, Calgary, Edmonton and Fort McMurray.
Extension of existing summer service increases through the winter including three daily flights between Toronto and Moncton, six daily flights between Edmonton and Kelowna and 12 weekly flights between Calgaryand Houston.

This winter WestJet will operate an average of 700 daily flights to 93 destinations including 37 in Canada, 22 in the United States, 33 in Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America and one in Europe.

Copyright Photo: WestJet Airlines Boeing 737-8CT SSWL C-GWSZ (msn 37092) (Walt Disney World – Magic Plane) YVR (Steve Bailey). Image: 936503.