DATA SPOTLIGHT: WestJet

15 September, 2020

This year the Corporate Travel Community (CTC) will feature some of the leading airlines, airports and country markets for air travel. Here, using the extensive profile insights available to CAPA - Centre for Aviation members to deliver a data snapshot at where they sit today in the Covid-19 impacted world, we look at WestJet, where domestic activity is subdued and valuable international activity remains restricted by government travel restrictions.

Canada's initial travel restrictions have been firmly in place since Mar-2020, and have created challenges for the country's airlines, adding another obstacle for operators as they work to navigate deeply depressed demand.

Canadian operators have routinely pushed for the lifting of some restrictions, urging the country's government to adopt a more science-based approach in managing travel during the Covid-19 crisis. WestJet, like other operators in the country, is working to travel and rebuild the countries severely impact air transport industry through a variety of initiatives.

This past week it announced a partnership with TuGo to offer no charge Covid-19 travel insurance coverage for passengers travelling to/from Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe and inbound to Canada on/after 18-Sep-2020. Travel to/from the UK is included in the coverage, but not to/from the US. Coverage will be automatically applied to eligible guests at the time of purchase for travel until 31-Aug-2021, for up to 21 days.

The travel insurance includes up to CAD100,000 (USD76,004) in emergency medical and hospital costs and up to CAD150 (USD114) per day for 14 days in quarantine accommodation costs, should the traveller test positive on the trip and WestJet hopes it will provide piece of mind to any potential passengers that are showing initial confidence to fly again.

ABOUT
Established in 1996, WestJet is a Canadian low-cost carrier based in Calgary, with secondary hubs in Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver and Winnipeg. WestJet operates a network of domestic and regional services within Canada, as well as cross-border services to the United States, the Caribbean and Mexico. WestJet announced Onex Corporation entered a definitive agreement to acquire all outstanding WestJet shares for CAD31 (USD23) per share, after which the airline will operate as a privately held company. The transaction value is approximately CAD5 billion (USD3.7 billion) and approved by the Canadian Transportation Ministry in Jun-2019. WestJet and Onex Corp closed the deal on 11-Dec-2019.

NOTE
WestJet also has a wholly owned regional affiliate WestJet Encore which launched operations on 24-Jun-2013. The carrier utilises Bombardier Q400 equipment on underserved regional services which would not otherwise be viable with WestJet's larger Boeing 737 fleet.

GLOBAL RANKING (as at 14-Sep-2020)

NETWORK MAP (as at 14-Sep-2020)

DESTINATIONS (as at 14-Sep-2020)

CAPACITY SNAPSHOT (versus same week last year)

ANNUAL CAPACITY (2012-2020*)(NOTE:The values for this year are at least partly predictive up to 6 months and may be subject to change)

WEEKLY DOMESTIC CAPACITY (2017 - 2020*)(NOTE:The values for this year are at least partly predictive up to 6 months and may be subject to change)

WEEKLY INTERNATIONAL CAPACITY (2017 - 2020*)(NOTE:The values for this year are at least partly predictive up to 6 months and may be subject to change)