Tag Archives: WestJet Airlines

WestJet to charge $25 for the first checked bag for Econo fares for domestic and U.S. flights

WestJet (Calgary) today announced it will charge a $25 fee for a first checked bag on Econo fares for travel within Canada and between Canada and the U.S. The new fee will only apply to bookings made today onward, for travel on or after October 29, 2014. Guests flying to any of WestJet’s international destinations including Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and Europe may continue to check a first bag at no charge.

This change, which will apply to Econo fares only, is expected to affect approximately one in five WestJet guests. Guests who select a Flex fare will receive one free checked bag while guests choosing a Plus fare will enjoy two complimentary checked bags in addition to waived fees, seat selection, more legroom and many other amenities. For more information on WestJet baggage fees, please visit westjet.com/baggage.

The baggage allowances for military personnel (with identification), infant and child equipment, mobility devices and code-share and interline guests are not impacted.

WestJet also today launched its new WestJet Rewards tiers program featuring three levels – Teal, Silver and Gold. Guests who qualify for the Silver tier will be able to check a first bag at no cost. Guests who qualify for the Gold tier will get two free checked bags. For more information on all the significant benefits offered with the new WestJet Rewards tiers, please visit westjet.com/tiers. In addition, we have added a free first bag as an enhanced benefit to our WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard credit card program.

Along with the launch of WestJet Rewards tiers, the airline also introduced a price-drop guarantee today on WestJet flights and WestJet Vacations packages. Guests who see that the price of their flight or their vacation package has dropped since their original purchase can receive the difference in WestJet dollars.

Copyright Photo: TMK Photography/AirlinersGallery.com. WestJet Airlines’ Boeing 737-8CT WL C-GWRG (msn 39071) with the Split Scimitar Winglets arrives at the Toronto (Pearson) hub.

WestJet:

AG:

WestJet to add Loreto, Mexico and Fredericton

WestJet (Calgary) has announced the 2014-2015 winter schedule featuring two new destinations, one new route and increased frequency on 19 additional routes. Twice-daily nonstop service between Toronto (Pearson) and Fredericton, New Brunswick begins on April 15, 2015, and weekly nonstop service between Calgary and Loreto, Mexico, launches on February 14, 2015. Weekly flights between Winnipeg and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood operate Saturdays starting on November 1, 2014.

Flights to Fredericton will be operated by WestJet Encore (Calgary) using its fleet of 78-seat, Canadian-made Bombardier DHC-8-402 (marketed as the Q400) NextGen aircraft.

Earlier this year, WestJet unveiled four additional new routes as part the 2014-2015 winter schedule.

WestJet Encore service between Calgary and Penticton begins October 26, 2014, Edmonton to Kamloops service starts February 15, 2015, and Quebec City welcomes twice-daily flights beginning March 15, 2015. Daily WestJet service between Toronto and Phoenix launches October 26, 2014.

WestJet Encore was launched in June 2013 operating 10 departures daily to two destinations with two aircraft and 131 employees. Today, it operates 90 departures daily to 19 destinations with 12 aircraft and approximately 500 employees.

Copyright Photo: Wingnut/AirlinersGallery.com. Captured at an unusual angle, Boeing 737-8CT C-GAWS (msn 38880) with the special #100 Boeing 737 NG markings taxies at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

WestJet:

WestJet to add wide-body aircraft by the fall of 2015

WestJet Airlines Ltd. (Calgary) today announced that it is moving forward with plans that would see the airline fly its own wide-body aircraft as early as fall 2015. The airline has received the support of the WestJet Pilot Association and its Board of Directors, and is currently in the advanced stages of sourcing wide-body aircraft.

“This is the natural, next-step evolution for WestJet,” said WestJet President and CEO Gregg Saretsky. “It’s made possible by our low-cost business model, growing network strength, airline partnerships and our award-winning brand driven by the efforts of our more than 10,000 WestJetters from coast to coast.”

Initially, WestJet expects to operate four wide-body aircraft with the first deployments on routes between Alberta and Hawaii during the winter season beginning in late 2015. The airline’s current winter service between Alberta and Hawaii, via two Boeing 757-200s operated by Thomas Cook, is ending in the spring of 2015. Further announcements regarding WestJet’s wide-body schedule for the 2016 summer season will be released at a later date, as the airline looks to expand its operation into overseas markets.

WestJet:

WestJet to start Toronto-Phoenix flights

WestJet (Calgary) will start a new route linking the Toronto (Pearson) hub with Phoenix, Arizona starting on October 26. The new route will be operated with Boeing 737-700 aircraft on a daily basis per Airline Route.

Copyright Photo: Jay Selman/AirlinersGallery.com. WestJet Airlines Boeing 737-7CT WL C-FWSO (msn 32759) plans to land in Las Vegas.

WestJet:

WestJet partners with Panasonic for new inflight entertainment

WestJet (Calgary) has announced it has signed a multi-year agreement with Panasonic Avionics Corporation to provide the airline with a new inflight entertainment system with the ability to feature wireless satellite internet connectivity, live streaming television, on-demand movies, magazines and more.

Guests will be able to use their own personal electronic device (PED) or laptop computer to receive live and stored content streamed wirelessly from a server on board each WestJet Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft. Tablets will be available for those guests not travelling with a device.

WestJet will also install USB/110 volt power outlets in new, slimmer seats on its aircraft to enable guests to charge their devices or keep them charged while using the entertainment system. And, with a mix of free and paid content, the new system offers the airline additional ancillary revenue opportunities.

There are currently 275 airlines around the world using a Panasonic inflight entertainment system. Panasonic will install the system on one WestJet Boeing Next Generation aircraft before the end of 2014 at which time the airline will perform tests to fine-tune the system. When installed on WestJet’s fleet over the next several years, guests will be able to access live television, movies, magazines and the internet throughout North America, the Caribbean and Central America, Europe, as well as future WestJet destinations.

WestJet:

WestJet to return to Myrtle Beach on March 6

WestJet (Calgary) has announced it will resume its nonstop seasonal service between Toronto (Pearson) and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on March 6, 2014, nearly two months earlier than in 2013.

The twice-weekly service will operate on Thursdays and Sundays from March 6 to October 23, 2014, with a change in flight times effective April 27.

Details of the 2014 Toronto-Myrtle Beach service are:

March 6-April 24, 2014

Day	Flight	Departing	Arriving
Thursday	1154	Toronto at 6:45 p.m.	Myrtle Beach at 8:50 p.m.
Thursday	1155	Myrtle Beach at 9:35 p.m.	Toronto at 11:30 p.m.
Sunday	1154	Toronto at 3:15 p.m.	Myrtle Beach at 5:20 p.m.
Sunday	1155	Myrtle Beach at 6:10 p.m.	Toronto at 8:05 p.m.

April 27-October 23, 2014

Day	Flight	Departing	Arriving
Thursday	1154	Toronto at 9:35 a.m.	Myrtle Beach at 11:38 a.m.
Thursday	1155	Myrtle Beach at 12:25 p.m.	Toronto at 2:27 p.m.
Sunday	1154	Toronto at 9:35 p.m.	Myrtle Beach at 11:38 p.m.
Sunday	1155	Myrtle Beach at 12:25 p.m.	Toronto at 2:27 p.m.

Copyright Photo: James Helbock/AirlinersGallery.com. Sparkling in the California sun, Boeing 737-8CT C-GWSZ (msn 37092) in the new “Walt Disney World” scheme arrives in San Diego. The flashy logo jet is known as the “Magic Plane”. Click on the photo for the full size view.

WestJet:

WestJet’s pilots reject the proposed contract

WestJet (Calgary) has announced that its pilots have voted against a tentative agreement by a margin of 58.7 percent. Turnout was very strong, with 96 per cent of pilots voting.

The current agreement remains in effect until a new agreement is reached. Pilots at WestJet are represented by the WestJet Pilots Association (WJPA), a non-union employee association.

“We are disappointed with the results of the vote,” said Gregg Saretsky, WestJet President and CEO. “Our leadership team and the WJPA will regroup in the coming weeks, focusing on understanding the specific concerns of the pilot group and, just as we’ve always done, work collaboratively to bring forward a new agreement.”

WestJet:

Westjet to fly its first trans-Atlantic route to Dublin, Ireland

WestJet (Calgary) starting on June 15, 2014* will be offering its first trans-Atlantic service from St. John’s, Newfoundland to Dublin, Ireland, with connecting service from several other Canadian destinations.

St. John’s is actually closer to Dublin than Calgary.

Schedule highlights:

Route	Frequency	Dates^
St. John’s – Dublin	Daily	June 15, 2014 to October 5, 2014
Toronto (direct same plane) – Dublin**	Daily	June 15, 2014 to October 5, 2014
Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Hamilton, Kelowna, Montreal, Ottawa, Thunder Bay, Vancouver, Victoria, Winnipeg – Dublin**	Daily	June 15, 2014 to October 5, 2014

*Subject to government approval.
^Schedule is subject to change without notice.
**Available daily through connections. Guests flying from Toronto will stop in St. John’s but will have the same plane to Dublin.

WestJet:

WestJet reports 3Q net earnings of C$65.1 million

WestJet (Calgary) today announced its third quarter 2013 results, with net earnings of $65.1 million, or $0.50 per diluted share. This compares with the net earnings of $70.6 million, or $0.52 per diluted share reported in the third quarter of 2012. Based on the trailing twelve months, the airline achieved a return on invested capital of 13.8 per cent, compared with the 14.4 per cent reported in the previous quarter, and one of the best third quarters in WestJet history.

“We had a strong third quarter in which we flew a record number of guests, exceeded our 12 per cent ROIC target for the fifth consecutive quarter, and reached our initial business transformation initiative milestone one year early by implementing and identifying various opportunities which we believe will result in approximately $100 million in future cost savings in 2014,” said WestJet President and CEO Gregg Saretsky. “With the market launch of our Plus product in August, we are now providing our business and leisure guests with even more flexibility, comfort and convenience, and my thanks go to WestJetters for their ongoing efforts to take care of our guests.”


	Q3 13	Q3 12	Change	YTD 2013	YTD 2012	Change
Net earnings (millions)	$65.1	$70.6	(7.8%)	$200.9	$181.4	10.7%
Diluted earnings per share	$0.50	$0.52	(3.8%)	$1.51	$1.33	13.5%
Total revenues (millions)	$924.8	$866.5	6.7%	$2,735.8	$2,566.8	6.6%
Operating margin	10.7%	12.5%	(1.8 pts)	10.9%	11.1%	(0.2 pts)
ASMs (billions)	6.109	5.498	11.1%	18.029	16.576	8.8%
RPMs (billions)	5.059	4.654	8.7%	14.823	13.770	7.6%
Load factor	82.8%	84.6%	(1.8 pts)	82.2%	83.1%	(0.9 pts)
Segment guests	4,940,943	4,611,315	7.1%	13,927,538	13,109,328	6.2%
Yield (cents)	18.28	18.62	(1.8%)	18.46	18.64	(1.0%)
RASM (cents)	15.14	15.76	(3.9%)	15.17	15.48	(2.0%)
CASM (cents)	13.52	13.80	(2.0%)	13.52	13.77	(1.8%)

During the third quarter, WestJet continued the roll-out of WestJet Encore, beginning service to Brandon, Manitoba on September 3 and announcing Terrace, B.C. as a new community that will welcome its first Encore flight on November 25, 2013. WestJet Encore also added new non-stop routes joining the dots in WestJet’s network, including flights between Winnipeg and Saskatoon, Winnipeg and Regina and between Vancouver and Kamloops, B.C. “We are very pleased with the overwhelming community support WestJet Encore has received, as we give even more Canadians access to lower fares, stimulate demand in smaller communities, and repeat WestJet’s success in the regional space,” said Gregg Saretsky.

In the third quarter, WestJet entered into a definitive purchase agreement for 65 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft with deliveries scheduled from 2017 through 2027. This order will enable the airline to enhance its inflight guest experience, support its low-cost business model, and contribute to its profitable growth by utilizing a lower operating cost aircraft that is expected to reduce fuel burn and CO2 emissions by 13 per cent, as compared with the most fuel-efficient single-aisle aircraft currently available.

With the impact on demand caused by the summer flooding in Calgary, Alberta and the surrounding communities behind the airline, WestJet expects continued strong traffic and revenue growth in the fourth quarter of 2013. The airline anticipates its 2013 fourth quarter RASM to be roughly flat as compared to the same period in the prior year.

The airline expects jet fuel costs to range between 90 and 92 cents per liter for the fourth quarter of 2013, representing a down 1.0 to up 1.0 per cent year-over-year change. For the full year 2013, the airline now expects CASM, excluding fuel and employee profit share, to be down approximately 0.5 per cent year-over-year.

WestJet:

WestJet launches nonstop seasonal Calgary-Miami flights

WestJet (Calgary) yesterday (October 28) launched new nonstop seasonal service between Calgary and Miami, Florida, home to the largest cruise ship port in the world. The first flight leaves Calgary International Airport at 1:30 p.m. MDT and arrives at Miami International Airport at 8:45 p.m. EDT .

Details of WestJet’s new non-stop seasonal service between Calgary and Miami are:

Flight	Departing	Arriving	Effective
1500	Calgary at 1:30 p.m.	Miami at 8:43 p.m.	October 28, 2013
1501	Miami at 9:35 a.m.	Calgary at 1:45 p.m.	October 29, 2013

The launch marks the start of service four times weekly on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays until December 14, 2013 . Effective December 16, 2013 , the service increases to six times weekly (Monday through Saturday).

Miami International Airport is a major hub of American Airlines, one of WestJet’s airline partners. From Miami , WestJet guests have the opportunity to connect to many different AA destinations throughout the United States , Central and South America. WestJet guests may also access Miami via American Airlines codeshare flights from Toronto and Montreal.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-7CT WL C-FEWJ (msn 32769) taxies to the gate at Miami International Airport.

WestJet: