WestJet Encore
A WestJet Encore Dash 8-Q400 at Calgary International Airport after a heavy thunderstorm. Photo: Capt. Chad Ireland (WestJet Encore)
At A Glance
Pilots joined ALPA: 2017
Number of pilots/flightcrew members: 340
Pilot bases: Calgary, Alb., and Toronto, Ont.
Hubs/key markets: Vancouver, B.C., and Calgary and Edmonton, Alb.
Headquarters: Calgary, Alb.
Operations: WestJet Encore flies to various destinations across Canada.
Fleet: 35 Dash 8-Q400s
After failing to ratify a tentative agreement in May 2024, it was back to the bargaining table for WestJet Encore pilots and management.
By June, the pilots had ratified a new five-year contract with pay increases that set a new standard for Canadian regional pilots and more flexible schedules for a better work-life balance.
Of the 91 percent of eligible pilots who cast ballots, 79 percent voted in favour of the agreement, demonstrating to management the importance of recognizing the value and expertise the pilots bring to the WestJet Group.
“The ratification of the contract is a step toward our company and our pilots working together to put the airline in a more competitive position,” said Capt. Carin Kenny, the pilot group’s Master Executive Council chair. “Since negotiations began, we were clear that to attract new pilots to the WestJet Group and retain the ones currently flying for our airline, we needed a contract that provided competitive compensation, improved scheduling flexibility, and a level of career progression.”
Looking ahead, the pilot group is hopeful that the contract, which is industry-leading in many ways for a regional carrier, will make the WestJet Group a desired career choice once again for pilots.
