# WestJet

> WestJet is Canada's second-largest airline, a Calgary-born low-cost carrier that launched in 1996 with three used Boeing 737s and a promise to make flying affordable for ordinary Canadians. Three decades later it flies a fleet of roughly 180 aircraft, employs around 14,000 people, and has absorbed rivals Sunwing and Lynx Air to become the anchor of leisure and value travel across Canada, the U.S., the Caribbean, Mexico, and increasingly Europe.

- **Founded:** 1994
- **Headquarters:** Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- **Founders:** Clive Beddoe (Co-founder, Chairman & CEO), Tim Morgan (Co-founder), Mark Hill (Co-founder, wrote original business plan), Don Bell (Co-founder), David Neeleman (Co-founder)
- **Team size:** ~14,000 employees
- **Products:** WestJet Scheduled Flights, WestJet Encore, WestJet Vacations / Sunwing Vacations, WestJet Rewards, WestJet RBC Mastercard
- **Notable:** Grew from three used Boeing 737s in 1996 to Canada's second-largest airline., Built a fleet of roughly 180 aircraft including 787-9 Dreamliners for long-haul routes., Completed the integration of Sunwing Airlines into WestJet operations by May 2025.

## Products & services

- **WestJet Scheduled Flights** — Domestic and international passenger flights across Canada, the U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and Europe, operated primarily by Boeing 737 and 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
- **WestJet Encore** — Regional subsidiary flying De Havilland Dash 8-400 turboprops to smaller Canadian communities that mainline jets do not serve.
- **WestJet Vacations / Sunwing Vacations** — Package holidays bundling flights, hotels, and transfers to sun destinations, expanded significantly through the Sunwing acquisition.
- **WestJet Rewards** — Loyalty program letting members earn and redeem WestJet dollars/points on flights and vacation packages, with tiered benefits.
- **WestJet RBC Mastercard** — Co-branded credit cards (including World Elite) that accelerate points earning on everyday spend and Sunwing Vacations purchases.
- **WestJet Cargo** — Air freight and belly-cargo services across the WestJet network, including dedicated freighter capacity.
- **Fare Bundles** — Tiered cabin and fare options - UltraBasic, Economy, Extended Comfort, and Premium - offering a consistent choice across the unified 737 fleet.

## Achievements

- Grew from three used Boeing 737s in 1996 to Canada's second-largest airline.
- Built a fleet of roughly 180 aircraft including 787-9 Dreamliners for long-haul routes.
- Completed the integration of Sunwing Airlines into WestJet operations by May 2025.
- Absorbed aircraft and routes from Swoop and the defunct Lynx Air to consolidate Canadian low-cost travel.
- Sustained an employee-ownership and profit-sharing culture rare among major airlines.

## Latest updates

- **2025-05** — WestJet completed the operational integration of Sunwing Airlines, unifying its narrow-body fleet around roughly 150 Boeing 737s with four cabin options.
- **2025-09** — RBC and WestJet announced refreshed WestJet RBC Mastercard credit cards, with faster points earning and expanded benefits effective November 5, 2025.
- **2025** — A flight attendants' strike affecting mainline 737 and 787 operations tested labour relations; Encore services were unaffected.

## Links

- Website: https://westjet.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/westjet
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/WestJet
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/westjet
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westjet/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/westjet/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@westjet

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/westjet
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-14