WestJet is making progress with its Boeing 787 network, with the announcement the airline is to make Calgary its hub.
WestJet Boeing 787 – Image, The Boeing Company/WestJet
With Calgary being the 787 hub, the airline will launch three routes operating the type. These are:
- London Gatwick – Commences 28th April 2019
- Paris Charles de Gaulle – Commences 17th May 2019
- Dublin – Commences 1st June 2019
The planned timetable is as follows:
Data: WestJet
The timings are workout out so passengers can connect onto other flights as needed for Canadian and US West Coast Connections. Fares are due to be loaded on the Westjet site later today.
On the announcement of the route launch, Ed Sims, WestJet President and CEO states
“Alberta’s connectivity to the rest of the world is vital for our economy,”
. “WestJet is investing in Alberta to bring further economic growth, boost tourism to the province, and to further position our city as an international aviation hub. We are excited to bring Albertans to the world and the world to Alberta.”
WestJet’s first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner will arrive in early 2019, with and additional two arriving by April. The airline intents to use them within Canada on domestic runs for crew training and to complete regulatory matters before the first international flight.
The hubs for the remaining 7 aircraft (along with destinations) are yet to be announced. In addition, WestJet holds 10 options with Boeing for additional Dreamliners if needed. The Dreamliner will replace the Boeing 767 used on the Calgary – London Gatwick route.
WestJet will offer a three class configuration on the planes, with 16 lie-flat seats (seemingly to be the Rockwell Collins Diamond Seat), a premium economy cabin and an Economy Class cabin fitted with Recaro CL3710 (which as we know, is a pretty reasonable seat down the back of the plane).
As Westjet continues to crystallise their long haul plans with their long haul plans (and in some ways, open up a hell of a bun-fight with Air Canada with the products on-board that will rival it), it shows the airline is moving in to a space it will have an interesting time in – the full service carrier model.
If the airline can rise to that challenge, expect it to join the transatlantic bun fight for passengers with vigour.
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