WestJet
A WestJet B-737 MAX 8 over the Pacific heading toward Honolulu, Hawaii. Photo: F/O Sean Wilson (WestJet)
At A Glance
Pilots joined ALPA: 2017
Number of pilots/flightcrew members: 1,917
Pilot bases: Vancouver, B.C.; Calgary and Edmonton, Alb.; Toronto, Ont.; and Winnipeg, Man.
Hubs/key markets: Vancouver, B.C.; Calgary, Alb.; and Toronto, Ont.
Headquarters: Calgary, Alb.
Operations: WestJet offers scheduled service to more than 100 destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and Europe. Through partnerships with airlines representing every major region of the world, the airline flies to more than 150 destinations in more than 20 countries.
Fleet: B-737-700s/-800s, B-737 MAX 8s, and B-787-9 Dreamliners
Armed with a newly ratified collective agreement, the pilots of WestJet Airlines spent 2024 focused on flying and helping their company execute its growth strategy.
Throughout April and May, the mainline pilots supported their brothers and sisters at WestJet Encore, who in June ratified their own contract, giving the regional carrier the ability to grow and succeed while ensuring labour stability and a reliable feed for the mainline’s B-737 and B-787 fleets.
With stability on the labour front, the pilots turned their attention to the company’s acquisition of Sunwing Airlines and working with Sunwing pilots to reach a pilot transfer agreement and the subsequent integration of the pilots’ seniority lists.
Looking ahead, WestJet pilots recognize that with the addition of a Montréal, Qué., base in 2025 and the flow of Sunwing pilots to WestJet over the next six to 18 months, building unity within their newly merged pilot group will be crucial to the success of the airline.
