Airline receives certification for wide-body flying
CALGARY, Jan. 10, 2016 /CNW/ - WestJet today celebrates the airline's first flight from Alberta to Hawaii on its own Boeing 767-300 extended-range aircraft. To this point, flights to the Hawaiian Islands had been taking place on leased aircraft.
"As we enter our 20th anniversary year, non-stop service from Alberta to Hawaii onboard our own wide-body aircraft is an exciting new chapter in the WestJet success story," said Bob Cummings, WestJet Executive Vice-President, Commercial. "Albertans love non-stop WestJet service to Hawaii and we now have the opportunity to provide a full WestJet experience with our own Boeing 767-300 aircraft combined with our award-winning WestJetters."
WestJet took delivery of its first Boeing 767-300 on August 27, 2015 and has been flying the aircraft between Calgary and Toronto in order to obtain Extended-range Twin-engine Operation (ETOPS) certification. This certification allows the aircraft to be operated for extended distances over water and is required for WestJet's service to Hawaii and to London Gatwick, which commences service in May 2016.
"I want to thank the dozens of WestJetters across our network for their hard work and professionalism as we worked through ETOPS certification. Their efforts will bear fruit as these aircraft allow us to broaden our horizons," concluded Bob Cummings.
WestJet's Boeing 767-300 service to Hawaii departs Edmonton on January 10 at 8:15 a.m. and arrives in Maui at 12:37 p.m.
The airline will operate two 767-300 aircraft from Calgary and Edmonton to Honolulu and Maui. Each aircraft seats 262 guests. The aircraft include a Plus cabin with 24 premium seats in a two-by-two configuration, hot meals and all of the other amenities associated with Plus. The main cabin has 238 seats, with two seats on either side of the aircraft and three in the middle. One of the 767s will be equipped with WestJet Connect, the airline's new inflight entertainment and wireless connectivity system while the other will include tablets loaded with movies and popular televisions shows. By spring, both aircraft will be equipped with WestJet Connect.
WestJet's seasonal service between Alberta and Hawaii began December 11, 2015, using two leased 767 aircraft from Omni Air International pending receipt of federal government certification for extended operation of WestJet's 767s, which was received on December 30, 2015.
About WestJet
We are proud to be Canada's highest-rated airline for customer service, powered by an award-winning culture of care and recognized as one of the country's top employers. We offer scheduled service to 100 destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe. Through our regional airline, WestJet Encore, and with partnerships with airlines representing every major region of the world, we offer our guests more than 150 destinations in more than 20 countries. Leveraging WestJet's extensive network, flight schedule and remarkable guest experience, WestJet Vacations delivers affordable, flexible travel experiences with a variety of accommodation options for every guest. Members of our WestJet Rewards program earn WestJet dollars on flights, vacation packages and more. Our members use WestJet dollars towards the purchase of WestJet flights and vacations packages on any day, at any time, to any WestJet destination with no blackout periods ̶ even on seat sales. For more information about everything WestJet, please visit westjet.com.
Recent recognition includes:
2015/2011/2008-2005 Canada's 10 Most-Admired Corporate Cultures (Waterstone Human Capital) 2015/2014/2013/2012 Canada's Most Attractive Employer (Randstad)
2015/2014/2013/2012 Top three brands in Canada (Canadian Business magazine)
2015 Best Employers in Canada (Aon Hewitt)
2015/2014/2013 WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard ranked #1 in Canada (MoneySense magazine)
2015/2014/2013 WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard ranked #1 in the Canada's Choice ranking (RewardsCanada.ca)
2014 Interbrand Canada's Best Canadian Brands (rank #20)
2014 Brands of the Year (Strategy magazine)
2014 Canada's Most Preferred Airline (Ipsos)
2014 Value Airline of the Year (Air Transport World magazine)
2014/2013/2012/2011 Highest equity score: airline, vacation package supplier brands (Harris/Decima EquiTrend Study)
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SOURCE WestJet
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