CALGARY — The WestJet Group will acquire an additional three Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft from BOC Aviation Limited.

The three aircraft are expected to integrate into the WestJet Group’s fleet and operations in 2024, following the completion of leasing agreements. 

“We have an ambitious growth strategy, and the expansion of our fleet is critical to our mission of providing affordable air travel to Canadians,” said Mike Scott, WestJet Group, Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer. “Working with a trusted partner like BOC Aviation supports us in meeting our growth expectations for 2024.”

Updating and refreshing the interior cabins of the aircraft will be prioritized as part of the airlines’ existing fleet reconfiguration plans, to ensure a consistent experience for guests across its operation as soon as possible, according to the company.

“Two years ago, we set out a plan for growth that would maintain our position as both Canada’s national leisure champion and western home carrier, while enhancing domestic connectivity from coast-to-coast,” said Scott. “We are seeing the benefits of our strategy come to life across our network and the consistent growth of our fleet capacity is essential to maintaining our momentum.”

EDMONTON SCHEDULE

WestJet has also unveiled its Edmonton winter 2024/2025 flight schedule featuring a 20% increase in capacity over winter 2023. As such, WestJet will operate the city’s largest-ever network to and from Edmonton, with 16 nonstop destinations in Canada, nine transborder, including Hawaii, and five options to Mexico.

WestJet will increase frequencies on key domestic routes. As WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech noted earlier in May during a visit to the region, the WestJet Group remains close to securing additional aircraft from the used aircraft market to accelerate the airline’s growth plans. Highlights include:

• This winter, WestJet will operate approximately 313 flights out of Edmonton International Airport per week
• As one of the most connected cities in WestJet’s network, Edmonton will see new or increased flight frequency on 10 of 16 domestic routes
• WestJet is the number one carrier in the region, providing 50% of all air travel from Edmonton International Airport

The domestic schedule for Winter 2024/2025 is as follows: 

• Edmonton-Ottawa (NEW): 11x/weekly
• Edmonton-Montreal (NEW): 5x/weekly
• Edmonton-Winnipeg: 16x/weekly (+10 weekly flights vs. 2023)
• Edmonton-Vancouver: 42x/weekly (+8 weekly flights vs. 2023)
• Edmonton-Abbotsford: 9x/weekly (+4 weekly flights vs. 2023)
• Edmonton-Regina: 10x/weekly (+4 weekly flights vs. 2023)
• Edmonton-Victoria: 11x/weekly (+4 weekly flights vs. 2023)
• Edmonton-Saskatoon: 9x/weekly (+2 weekly flights vs. 2023)
• Edmonton-Kelowna: 19x/weekly (+1 weekly flight vs. 2023)
• Edmonton-Comox: 5x/weekly (+1 weekly flight vs. 2023)
• Edmonton-Calgary: 54x/weekly
• Edmonton-Toronto: 27x/weekly
• Edmonton-Fort McMurray: 8x/weekly
• Edmonton-Grande Prairie: 4x/weekly
• Edmonton-Halifax: 3x/weekly
• Edmonton-Yellowknife: 2x/weekly

Domestic schedule highlights and notable winter frequency increases:

•  New year-round connectivity between Edmonton and Montreal and Ottawa
•  167 per cent frequency increase between Edmonton and Winnipeg
•  67 per cent frequency increase between Edmonton and Regina
•  29 per cent frequency increase between Edmonton and Saskatoon
•  Increased connectivity to all B.C. destinations including Vancouver, Kelowna, Comox, Abbotsford and Victoria

• 80 per cent frequency increase between Edmonton and Abbotsford
• 57 per cent frequency increase between Edmonton and Victoria
• 25 per cent frequency increase between Edmonton and Comox
• 24 per cent frequency increase between Edmonton and Vancouver
• Six per cent frequency increase between Edmonton and Kelowna

While all routes are currently available for booking in winter 2024/25, new flight frequencies will be available for sale with the publication of WestJet’s full winter schedule in July 2024.

DAILY FLIGHTS TO ATLANTA

This winter, WestJet is bolstering its transborder winter service by providing daily connectivity to Atlanta. Through direct connectivity to Atlanta and Minneapolis, guests will enjoy the advantages of WestJet’s codeshare agreement with Delta Airlines, granting access to hundreds of additional U.S. destinations from two of Delta’s busiest hubs.

• Edmonton-Atlanta (NEW): 7x/weekly
• Edmonton-Las Vegas: 10x/weekly
• Edmonton-Los Angeles: 6x/weekly
• Edmonton-Minneapolis: 5x/weekly
• Edmonton-Phoenix: 10x/weekly
• Edmonton-Palm Springs: 7x/weekly
• Edmonton-Orlando: 2x/weekly
• Edmonton-Honolulu: 2x/weekly
• Edmonton-Maui: 2x/weekly

EDMONTON TO MEXICO

In addition to WestJet’s domestic and transborder offerings, it will enhance frequencies on some of its most popular sun destinations, including Huatulco and Cancun, Mexico. 

• Edmonton-Huatulco: 3x/weekly (+1 weekly flight vs. 2023)
• Edmonton-Cancun: 9x/weekly (+1 weekly flight vs. 2023)
• Edmonton-Puerto Vallarta: 10x/weekly
• Edmonton-Los Cabos: 3x/weekly
• Edmonton-Mazatlán: 2x/weekly

Notable winter frequency increases to sun destinations include a 50 per cent increase between Edmonton and Huatulco and a 13 per cent increase between Edmonton and Cancun.