WestJet

WestJet, operating under IATA code WS and ICAO code WJA, is a major Canadian airline headquartered in Calgary, Alberta. Founded in 1996 by Clive Beddoe, Mark Hill, Tim Morgan, and four other partners, the airline began operations as a low-cost carrier with a focus on offering affordable air travel within Western Canada. Over the years, WestJet has grown from a regional player into a national and international carrier, though it remains a private company. In 2019, it was acquired by Onex Corporation, a Toronto-based private equity firm, taking the airline private after being publicly traded for nearly two decades. This ownership change allowed WestJet to restructure its operations and invest in long-term growth, including the expansion of its wide-body fleet.

WestJet’s fleet is predominantly composed of Boeing aircraft, reflecting its historical reliance on the 737 family. The airline operates Boeing 737 Next Generation variants, including the 737-700, 737-800, and 737 MAX 8 and MAX 10, which serve its short- to medium-haul network. For long-haul flying, WestJet introduced the Boeing 787 Dreamliner in 2018, with a fleet of 787-9 aircraft that have enabled the carrier to offer premium transatlantic and potentially transpacific services. The airline also operates a smaller regional fleet through its subsidiary WestJet Encore, which uses Bombardier Q400 turboprops for shorter routes, and a small number of De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 aircraft operated by WestJet Link under a partnership with Pacific Coastal Airlines. This stratified fleet allows WestJet to serve a mix of high-density trunk routes and thinner regional markets.

The airline’s principal hub is Calgary International Airport (YYC), where it maintains its largest operational base and corporate headquarters. Secondary hubs are located at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and Vancouver International Airport (YVR). These hubs support WestJet’s network structure, with Calgary serving as the central connecting point for western Canada and the Rocky Mountain region, while Toronto facilitates connections to eastern Canada and international destinations, and Vancouver provides access to the Pacific Northwest and trans-Pacific corridors. WestJet does not belong to any of the three major global airline alliances (Star Alliance, oneworld, or SkyTeam), choosing instead to maintain bilateral partnerships with carriers such as American Airlines, Air France, Delta Air Lines, and others. Since 2020, the airline has also intensified its partnership with China Airlines and other Asian carriers to complement its own long-haul operations.

WestJet began as a classic low-cost carrier (LCC) but has evolved into a more hybrid model, often described as a “low-cost carrier with a full-service twist.” It retains elements of the LCC approach, such as unbundled fares and ancillary revenue, while offering premium cabins on its 787 aircraft and a loyalty program called WestJet Rewards. In 2013, it launched WestJet Encore, a regional subsidiary, to feed traffic into its mainline hubs. The airline has received various recognitions, including being named one of Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures and one of the Best Employers in Canada multiple times. Notably, WestJet was the first Canadian airline to commit to carbon-neutral growth from 2020 onward and has invested in sustainable aviation fuel. Despite challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic and competition from ultra-low-cost carriers, WestJet remains a key pillar of Canadian aviation, with a fleet of over 180 aircraft and a workforce of roughly 14,000 employees as of 2024.