Canada’s low-cost carrier WestJet has taken a big step toward becoming a global airline by ordering 20 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, which will also ramp up its competition with market leader Air Canada.
The airline, which is also noted for its humorous advertising and April Fool videos, will use the planes to provide add Asian, South American and further European capabilities. The planes are 787-9s, and will begin arriving in early 2019. There are 10 firm orders and options for 10 more.
Originally a 737-only domestic carrier, Westjet in recent years has added 767 flights to Europe and Hawaii, and has flown some 737 routes from eastern Canada to closer European destinations in the U.K. and Ireland.
WestJet has also made moves in another direction: it’s announced plans to create an ultra-low-cost domestic carrier to compete in a different market. No definite announcements have been made, and while Ryanair and Easyjet in Europe and Spirit in the U.S. have made a success of ULCC, so far Canadian efforts, including one launched by Air Canada, have failed.
