The airline, founded on June 27, 1994, commenced its operations on February 29, 1996. WestJet Airlines is a Canadian carrier with its headquarters in Calgary, Alberta. It holds the position of the second-largest Canadian airline, trailing only Air Canada. The airline's daily operations encompass an average of 777 flights, serving over 66,130 passengers.

The year 2018 witnessed WestJet Airlines transporting 25.49 million passengers, positioning it as the ninth-largest airline in North America by total passenger count.

Originating in 1994 and taking flight in 1996, WestJet Airlines began as a cost-effective alternative to its major counterparts in the country's aviation sector. The airline offers both scheduled and charter air services, connecting more than a hundred destinations spanning Canada, the USA, Europe, Mexico, Central America, Asia, and the Caribbean.

WestJet Airlines is under the ownership of Kestrel Bidco Inc., a subsidiary of Onex Corporation. While not a former member of any airline alliance, the company has established codeshare agreements with numerous other airlines.

History

The airline's founders, Clive Beddoe, Mark Hill, Tim Morgan, Donald Bell, and Neeleman, based WestJet Airlines on the low-cost carrier business model pioneered by Morris Air and Southwest Airlines in the United States. The airline derived its name from its initial routes situated in Western Canada.

The inaugural WestJet flight took off on February 29, 1996, initially serving Calgary, Kelowna, Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Edmonton. The airline commenced its journey with three used Boeing 737-200 aircraft and a workforce of 225 employees. However, by the close of 1996, WestJet had expanded its network to include Victoria, Regina, and Saskatoon.

In mid-September 1996, WestJet's fleet was temporarily grounded due to a minor disagreement with Transport Canada over maintenance schedule requirements, leading to a two-week suspension of all services before resuming flights.

Clive Beddoe stepped down from his role as CEO of the airline in early 1999. He was succeeded by former Air Ontario executive Steve Smith, and in July 1999, WestJet held a public offering of 2.5 million shares. During 1999, Grande Prairie, Prince George, and Thunder Bay were added to WestJet's route map.

Steve Smith, who assumed the CEO position, parted ways with WestJet after eighteen months in 2000, primarily due to differences in management style. He later took charge of rival Air Canada's low-cost subsidiary, Zip.

2000-2003

WestJet expanded its reach into Eastern Canada, introducing services in Hamilton, Ontario, Ottawa, New Brunswick, and Moncton. The airline's expansion continued in 2001 with routes to Fort McMurray and Comox. New destinations included Marie, Ontario, Thompson, Brandon, Manitoba, and Sault Ste.

In 2002, WestJet added two more Eastern Canadian destinations: London and Ontario in Ontario. The airline also expanded to include Windsor, Montreal, Gander, St. John's, and Halifax.

In August 2003, WestJet entered a two-year agreement with Air Transat, operating chartered flights to Caribbean and Mexican destinations. These flights were managed by WestJet crews. However, the partnership between Air Transat and WestJet concluded in 2009.

In 2004, Air Canada, a rival airline, accused WestJet of industrial espionage and filed a civil suit against WestJet in Ontario Superior Court. Air Canada alleged that WestJet had accessed its confidential information through a private website to gain a competitive advantage.

Ownership and Structure

WestJet Airlines is operated by WestJet Airlines Ltd, a privately incorporated company in Canada.