This is turning out to be a very interesting year for Canada’s second largest airline, WestJet. Just a couple of weeks ago they announced their intentions to launch an ultra low cost carrier later this year, and now there’s more.
Continue reading: Wow: WestJet Places Order For Up To 20 Boeing 787s
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
They are not bad - I took them from YYZ to LGW. I like their premium economy as well - it is priced at $200 for a same day upgrade which is good value for what it is. Their staff are generally quite nice and less stuffy and unioney than AC.
Between news of WestJet's order and Alitalia going bankrupt, it's been a good day.
Happy to see WestJet being aggressive and taking on Air Canada: reminds me the Virgin Australia story. I'd imagine they're eyeing SkyTeam membership as well.
They have codeshare with Air France witch makes Flying Blue points in to my account
Not sure how they are low cost. They now operate a diverse fleet (737, 767, and Q400), and the wage gap is narrowing with Air Canada. They are not less expensive to fly than Air Canada... with the exception of no business class and limited lounge availability, it looks more and more like a regular airline
it's not really THAT risky if you think about it - (1) the 789 has huge demands in the market, so worst case they can always lease it out, and (2) they can always use them on east-west trunks like YVR-YYZ and YYC-YYZ or even transborder like YYZ-LAX if long-haul didn't pan out exactly the way they wanted.
10 firm orders isn't that many. The question is merely how they would stake out their position between AirCanada above and AirTransat below.
Westjet learned the hard way that penny wise older Qantas 767 was pound foolish with the expensive technical problems they've had. A teachable experience.
But finally, as a Canadian, the extortionate Air Canada will feel the pain!!!!
They code-share with AA too so I fly from Calgary to Charlotte a lot through Toronto, they are always the cheapest and I get 100% base miles credit to AA. Doesn't count toward elite status but I'll take the 100% miles.
Nice to see someone challenge Air Canada in Canada, I have to admit Air Canada's planes have more legroom in economy vs Westjet so it can be rough flying Westjet depending on what seat you get, since I'm 6'3''.
don't wanna sound like i'm pouring cold water, but AC+WS has been engaged in (legal) duopoly pricing for years. Particularly for the domestic market, there's practically zero need to drag each other into fare wars that would only trash yields without winning market share.
If you're Canadian looking for long-haul price relief, it would be the Chinese carriers flooding every mainland Chinese airport to YVR (once that's saturated it'll spread to YYZ and YYC), and the transatlantic LCCs/ULCCs, starting with WOW Air.
Ben, why do you keep calling WestJet a low cost airline? It is not! It began as a low cost airline, but evolved from that model a long time ago, and now WestJet is just a regular airline. There is noting low cost about it.
This is great news! I'm so excited to see their new routes with this aircraft. Even though I live in YYZ I've never flown Air Canada, but my I have flow WestJet to LGW and the service was pretty good!
This will make the LGW services run on time and be nice and modern. I will wait to fly Westjet when they bring those in.
They won't gain an additional 100 seats over the 767 with a 787. The 787 isn't that much bigger, more so it's more efficient and longer range.
@ Brad -- WestJet's 767s have 262 seats. Scoot has 375 seats on their 787-9s, including a premium economy cabin. What makes you think WestJet can't get 100 extra seats on their 787s?
I will bet this deal is used as a reason to put pressure on Trump to not embargo Canadian timber. Boeing has a strong Lobby maybe stronger than US lumber companies.
Ben,
Just watched a CBC interview with Mr. Saretsky (their CEO) where he confirmed that the B787s would have a Business Class cabin with lie-flat seats. Also, they're expecting delivery in 1Q19.