WestJet adding more fleet by 2020 as it announces partnership with Delta
WestJet is making some big moves over the next few years.
The Canadian airline has announced a recent partnership with US based Delta Air Lines, and it said that it will be increasing its number of aircrafts over the next three years.
With 51 aircrafts at the end of the third quarter of 2017, WestJet expects to grow that number to 96 in 2020.
“We continue to invest in strategic initiatives that will support our transition from a low-cost point-to-point model into a high value-based network airline with a global footprint,” said WestJet President and CEO Gregg Saretsky in a press release.
“We have been laying the foundation for this transition by investing in our network and schedule, while deepening our airline partnerships and broadening our fare products to not only defend and grow our leisure business but also to attract and retain premium travellers.”
The new partnership with Delta a comprehensive transborder venture that will increase travel choices between Canada and the US.
Delta Air Lines A319 (CNW Group/WestJet)
“With its strong brand and employee- and customer- centric culture, WestJet is the perfect partner for us in the US/Canada transborder segment,” said Steve Sear, Delta’s President – International and Executive Vice President – Global Sales. “We look forward to applying Delta’s experience building successful joint venture partnerships to this important segment of transborder travel, the second largest international segment for US travel.”
In the summer of 2018, WestJet is also expected to launch Swoop, its new ultra-low-cost carrier. Swoop promises to provide Canadians with a “no-frills” lower-fare travel option. WestJet had announced that they would be launching a new ultra-low cost airliner in April. According to a release from the company at the time, the initial fleet will be comprised of 10 high-density Boeing 737-800s. It’s not clear if those 10 are part of the 45 new planes WestJet announced on Wednesday morning.
The airline has also entered into a definitive purchase agreement for 10 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, with the first aircraft expected to be delivered in January 2019.