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Tag: WestJet

  • Delta and WestJet to Create New Transborder Joint Venture

    ATLANTA and CALGARY, July 19, 2018 /CNW/ – Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) and WestJet (TSX: WJA) have signed a definitive agreement to create a comprehensive transborder joint venture arrangement that will offer customers an extensive route network within the U.S. and Canada.

    “Delta’s future is global and together with WestJet, we can augment the two airlines’ capabilities and bring together our strengths in this important trans-border market,” said Ed Bastian, Delta’s CEO. “Combined, we will be able to offer more destinations to customers with an integrated network, superior airline products, improved airport connections and significantly enhanced frequent flyer benefits. The JV will provide an unmatched passenger experience for customers travelling between the U.S. and Canada.”

    “WestJet continues its drive toward becoming a global airline, and the signing of this agreement marks a major milestone in that journey,” said Ed Sims, WestJet President and CEO. “Working together with Delta, the premier U.S. carrier, we are looking forward to providing enhanced offerings and more choice for guests. The joint venture will allow us to maximize our existing partnership with Delta to benefit customers by bringing greater competition to the trans-border market.”

    The agreement deepens the existing codeshare partnership between the carriers and follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding in December 2017 announcing the intention to form a joint venture. The joint venture will provide substantial reach into Canada and the U.S. with transborder service to more than 30 cities covering over 95 per cent of U.S.-Canada demand, providing customers of both airlines with more travel choices than ever before. The new JV will also enable Delta and WestJet to compete more effectively against other carriers.

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  • WestJet recognized as North America’s Best Low-Cost Airline by Skytrax

    Airline also ranked sixth globally in the Best Low-Cost Airlines category

     

    WestJet_logo_rgbCALGARY, July 17, 2018 /CNW/ – WestJet today has been named North America’s Best Low-Cost Airline at Skytrax’s World Airline Awards for 2018.

    “We’re proud to be named the Best Low-Cost Airline in North America as voted on by 20 million global travellers,” said Ed Sims, WestJet President and CEO. “More than 13,000 WestJetters and their dedication and commitment to providing exceptional service are the true winners of this award. We look forward to providing our guests with more products, services and destinations, along with our caring guest experience as we transition to a global airline.”

    Globally, WestJet also ranked sixth in the Best Low-Cost Airlines category for 2018.

    The annual World Airline Awards began in 1999 when Skytrax launched its first global, annual airline customer satisfaction survey. For 2017-18, the independent, impartial and global awards were voted on by over 20 million customers.

    WestJet’s growing fleet currently operates more than 700 flights daily, reaching 106 cities in 22 countries across Canada, the U.S., Caribbean, Mexico and Europe.

    A complete list of the award-winning airlines can be found here: worldairlineawards.com/worlds-best-low-cost-airlines-2018/

  • WestJet statement regarding the application for certification of its cabin crew members

    WestJet_logo_rgbCALGARY, July 10, 2018 /CNW/ – WestJet today issued the following statement from President and CEO Ed Sims regarding the application for certification of its cabin crew members. WestJet received formal notice from Canada’s Industrial Relations Board today at 11:49 a.m. ET.

    “We respect the rights of our employees to choose their representation. Although we prefer to work directly with our employee groups as we have since 1996, we are dedicated to moving forward and will concentrate on the continued success of the organization for guests, employees and shareholders.”

  • WestJet ending flights out of Sudbury in October

    Too many half-empty planes, company says in a statement

    Jul 3, 2018 7:00 PM by: Sudbury.com Staff

    Less than two years after it returned, WestJet announced Monday that it will end flights out of the Greater Sudbury Airport as of October.

    WestJet spokesperson Lauren Stewart confirmed the decision in an email, saying it’s because of “weak demand.”

    “WestJet bases our service on supply and demand and we review our schedule on a regular basis to ensure we are meeting both guests’ and the company’s needs,” Stewart said in the email. “

    “Unfortunately demand did not pick up sufficiently over the 16 months that we have conducted operations from the community. This lack of demand consistently left our aircraft operating with more than half of the seats empty.

    “We appreciate and understand this is disappointing news for the community.”

    Before resuming in February 2017, WestJet had been absent from the airport since 2001.

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  • WestJet announces executive leadership changes

    WestJet_logo_rgb20-year industry veteran to drive airline strategy

    CALGARY, July 5, 2018 /CNW/ – The WestJet Group of Companies today announced changes to its executive leadership team. Bob Cummings, Executive Vice-President, Strategy and Guest Services will retire effective July 31, 2018. Cam Kenyon, Executive Vice-President, Operations is leaving WestJet to return to the United States effective August 31, 2018. Charles Duncan, Executive Vice-President, and President, WestJet Encore has been appointed Executive Vice-President and Chief Strategy Officer, effective August 1, 2018.

    “Bob Cummings has served as an EVP for more than 12 years and in that time the airline successfully grew revenues from $1 billion to more than $4 billion,” said Ed Sims, WestJet President and CEO. “His guidance and experience have been invaluable to us all. I thank Bob for his many contributions and wish him well in his next chapter.”

    “Cam Kenyon is returning to Denver to be with his family and we are grateful that he extended his contract twice to lead us through WestJet’s transition to a global, full-service carrier and our labour negotiations,” continued Ed Sims. “I thank Cam for the wealth of experience he has brought to the role.”

    “WestJet has reached a critical juncture as we look to significantly expand our global network,” commented Ed Sims. “In his role as Chief Strategy Officer, Charles Duncan will be responsible for providing the leadership necessary to ensure that WestJet’s strategic goals are met.”

    Charles Duncan previously worked for more than 20 years at United and Continental Airlines in a variety of commercial and operational roles before joining WestJet in June 2017 as Executive Vice-President and President, WestJet Encore. Since that time he has led the Encore team to continued expansion with the delivery of an additional eight Bombardier Q400 aircraft. Through his leadership, WestJet Encore is now among the best in on-time performance for regional airlines.

    “Strategy development and significant ability to execute will be the keys to our success,” said Charles Duncan. “I am honoured to lead this team.”

    Along with the executive changes, John Aaron, Vice-President, Flight Operations for WestJet Encore will assume the role of Vice-President and General Manager, WestJet Encore, reporting to the Executive Vice-President and Chief Operations Officer.

    Global searches are underway for both the Chief Commercial Officer and Chief Operations Officer.

  • WestJet reviewing baggage policy after customer’s discrimination complaint

    OLIVIA BOWDEN, TORONTO, THE CANADIAN PRESS

    WestJet_logo_rgbWestJet says it is reviewing its baggage policy after a customer complained that it discriminated against travellers from certain countries.

    The airline currently has a policy that prevents travellers to Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago from checking in more than two bags, unless the extra luggage is “a golf bag containing golf clubs.”

    Jared Walker tweeted about the policy after his 62-year-old mother was prevented from bringing an oversized bag on a trip to Jamaica to attend a funeral.

    Walker, 30, said the policy is “absurd” and shows preferential treatment to tourists, as opposed to travellers returning to their country of origin.

    WestJet told The Canadian Press in a statement that the baggage policy was in place for Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago “due to the amount of excess checked baggage brought by guests travelling to these particular destinations.”

    The company said it’s reviewing the aspect of the baggage policy related to golf bags, recognizing “the optics are poor.”

    It further said that travellers who want to bring more than two bags to Jamaica or Trinidad and Tobago can do so through WestJet Cargo, its air shipping service.

    The airline said it apologized to Walker and reached out to him in an attempt to resolve the issue. “It was never our intention to be discriminatory in this specific baggage policy,” said Lauren Stewart, a spokeswoman for WestJet.

    Walker said he received an apology and other messages from the company Wednesday afternoon but it was too late to help his mother, who was already in Jamaica.

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  • WestJet 004 passengers stuck at London’s Gatwick airport for nearly 60 hours

    264 passengers booked on a flight from Gatwick to Toronto on Saturday 23 June were delayed nearly 60 hours after two flights were cancelled due to mechanical issues.

     

    Click here to see CityNews Toronto report.

  • WestJet return to YYC due to fire in cargo hold

    The Transportation Safety Board sent investigators to Calgary International Airport after a WestJet passenger plane was forced to return after taking off. The board says there was a fire in the cargo compartment of the Boeing 737.

    WestJet says in a statement that shortly after takeoff today the crew on Flight 113 from Calgary to Vancouver was alerted by a fire indication light.

    The statement says all passengers and crew are safe and were unloaded after landing.

    WestJet is apologizing for the delay and inconvenience, but says safety is its first priority.

    The plane has been removed from service for further inspection.

    Additional Information from another source…

    “C-GWJT, a Boeing 737-700 aircraft operated by WestJet, was conducting flight WJA113 from Calgary Intl, AB (CYYC) to Vancouver Intl, BC (CYVR) with 56 passengers and 5 crew members on board. During the initial climb through 10 000 feet after the departure from CYYC, the flight crew received an aft cargo fire warning. The QRH was executed, an emergency was declared and a return to CYYC was requested. After the landing, ARFF inspected the aft cargo hold and found evidence of fire in a passenger baggage. The TSB Edmonton office has deployed two investigators to CYYC.”