[MacLac]

WestJet investing in 67 planes: Minister Schow

Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration Joseph Schow issued the following statement on WestJet’s announcement of its largest-ever aircraft order:

www.alberta.ca

Doesn't sound like Smitty has any plans to involve YEG on WJ's expansion......

 

[Vanfan123]

I wonder if Edmonton can get in on this MOU between the Alberta Government (all provincial taxpayers) and Westjet. As it stands now, it appears the province requires all those current Dreamliners be located at YYC airport. It looks one city receiving some preferential treatment.

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Even with the Alberta MOU agreement expiring 2027, it’s up to WestJet where they operate & base its planes

Even Pre Covid when WestJet 1st got deliveries of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner planes in the fleet they were rotated between Calgary YYC, Toronto YYZ & Vancouver YVR operating a mix of Domestic / Europe / Mexico & Hawaii US.

As for the WestJet’s new order for another 7 787’s . *New* routes I see in a few years is YYC - to 1 of either Shanghai PVG /Beijing PEK in China , another new route to Japan - like YYC - Osaka KIX (seasonally) is good possibility & additional flights to Europe.

 

[Glenco]

WestJet buys 67 Boeing planes in largest purchase to date as it charts growth plan

The deal includes 60 737 Max 10s and seven 787-9 Dreamliners

www.theglobeandmail.com

The order, which includes 60 737 Max 10s and seven 787-9 Dreamliners, is slated to be delivered between 2029 and 2034, said Alexis von Hoensbroech, the airline’s chief executive officer.

Don’t get too excited deliveries don’t start until 2029
I’m surprised they ordered the MAX10 it has had a multitude of issues with numerous delays over the years.

 

[TAS]

Even with the Alberta MOU agreement expiring 2027, it’s up to WestJet where they operate & base its planes

If they are receiving any taxpayer incentives/funding maybe Alberta government has or should have some leverage. But if government doesn't see it as a priority or important, they may not push the issue of having the two major city's having some direct international flights.

 

[Offworld]

Could this FINALLY pave the way for YEG widebody service to Europe or Asia?

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WS officially has more 787s on the way. This morning they announced a massive order with Boeing that includes 7 more 789s with an option of 4 more.

https://westjet.mediaroom.com/2025-0...er-with-Boeing

Also 60 Max 10s.

60 737 Max 10s. So what? This doesn't change anything.

 

[Offworld]

This is HUGE news for Calgary.

Fixed that for ya. Don't kid yourselves. Knowing some insiders at Westjet, this ain't gonna be Edmonton's saviour.

 

[bodsbods9090]

This is HUGE news for Alberta, Edmonton and Calgary. WJ doing a record order only means good things for Edmonton and yes hopefully we get London, and New York flights. This will also mean that AC/United will need to respond to the additions that WJ added. How anyone sees this as bad news is beyond me?

Hopefully WestJet proves me wrong but I doubt this helps Edmonton a ton...

 

[Oilers99]

Hopefully WestJet proves me wrong but I doubt this helps Edmonton a ton...

This is fundamentally incorrect? WJ still provides the most flights out of Edmonton and has flights going to huge Delta hubs like Seattle, Minneapolis and Atlanta. If we can get a JFK flight we have all their main hubs in addition to the other places they fly Edmontonians. This irrational hate for WJ makes no sense, yes they have had issues with service etc. but they do provide a lot of flights out of Edmonton? This is only a good thing for EIA. Obviously, Calgary will get the most benefits as WJ is HQd there but we will get benefits too.

 

[Glenco]

WS is like the kid who licks every cookie in the cookie jar. He can’t possibly eat them all but he doesn’t want anyone else having them. They provide just enough service to keep competitors away nothing more.

 

[Oilers99]

WS is like the kid who licks every cookie in the cookie jar. He can’t possibly eat them all but he doesn’t want anyone else having them. They provide just enough service to keep competitors away nothing more.

Lots of bitter people here about WS, they have almost 50 destinations from Edmonton, hardly consider that keeping the competitors away.

 

[BASE]

WS is like the kid who licks every cookie in the cookie jar. He can’t possibly eat them all but he doesn’t want anyone else having them. They provide just enough service to keep competitors away nothing more.

Disagree, they are the route leader out of YEG by a landslide and it's easy to go down the list and pick out plenty of routes that if they didn't offer wouldn't be offered by any other competitors. All of this with having their primary hub just down the road. If Westjet fell off the face of the earth at YEG you might see between AC, Flair, Porter, & American carriers pick up the slack for maybe half the routes but for flying to places like Halifax, Honolulu, Nanaimo, & Regina to name a few, I am quite confident those would be left to connections being required.

 

[bodsbods9090]

This is fundamentally incorrect? WJ still provides the most flights out of Edmonton and has flights going to huge Delta hubs like Seattle, Minneapolis and Atlanta. If we can get a JFK flight we have all their main hubs in addition to the other places they fly Edmontonians. This irrational hate for WJ makes no sense, yes they have had issues with service etc. but they do provide a lot of flights out of Edmonton? This is only a good thing for EIA. Obviously, Calgary will get the most benefits as WJ is HQd there but we will get benefits too.

I was more talking bigger routes for us but you are right about them serving Edmonton well.

And I don't hate WJ. Them over Air Canada any day!

 

[Oilers99]

I was more talking bigger routes for us but you are right about them serving Edmonton well.

And I don't hate WJ. Them over Air Canada any day!

They are buying more Dreamliners, I see one of those being used for a daily London flight out of Edmonton and the others having additional Calgary capacity.

 

[Glenco]

They are buying more Dreamliners, I see one of those being used for a daily London flight out of Edmonton and the others having additional Calgary capacity.

One can only hope but they won’t start delivery until 2029 so it will be at least 5 years until we can expect such a service. I don’t think people are willing to wait that long just in case. We really need this kind service yesterday.

 

[TAS]

They are buying more Dreamliners, I see one of those being used for a daily London flight out of Edmonton and the others having additional Calgary capacity.

Certainly, one WJ international route out of Edmonton is better than none.

Let's also remember a sizeable % of WJ revenues come from Edmonton area residents who have helped WJ be successful by purchasing a lot of seats on their flights - direct from both YEG and YYC.

Here in more detail is the MOU with the province and WJ signed in 2022, outlining WJ's commitments to the province: