WestJet

Big 3 Canadian airlines bulk up on cargo

Rear view of a large jetliner from underneath the tail.

Domestic e-commerce sales in Canada have more than doubled since the COVID pandemic to more than US$4.7 billion, according to Statistics Canada.

Air cargo business is growing in Canada, and the three biggest carriers there are investing accordingly. Two of them — Air Canada and WestJet — are passenger airlines that are in the process of establishing all-cargo divisions with aircraft dedicated to carrying freight on the main deck. Cargojet, as the name implies, is a cargo operator that also is...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/big-3-canadian-airlines-bulk-up-on-cargo

WestJet revs up cargo division with 1st freighter, new chief

A white jet with teal tail and WestJet Cargo painted on fuselage. The aircraft is WestJet's first freighter.

The hiring of a new cargo chief from one of the world’s top cargo airlines to coincide with the arrival of a first freighter aircraft demonstrates how serious Canadian airline WestJet is about becoming a significant player in airfreight.

WestJet last week named Kirsten de Brujin as executive vice president for cargo to take over from Charles Duncan, who will now focus on the company’s ultra-low-cost offerings as president of subsidiary Swoop and soon-to-be acquired Sunwing Airlines. The company...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/westjet-revs-up-cargo-division-with-1st-freighter-new-chief

WestJet marks new era with move to cargo jets

A white WestJet plane with wheels down comes in for landing. Plane has green tail.

Canadian shippers with express delivery needs will have more air cargo capacity to choose from this summer when WestJet, the country’s second-largest passenger airline, launches its stand-alone freighter division.

WestJet plans to take delivery in Calgary, Alberta, of its first used Boeing 737-800 aircraft converted for cabin cargo within a week and have two aircraft in revenue service by July 1, or sooner, Charles Duncan, executive vice president of cargo, told FreightWaves.

Operating from a...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/westjet-marks-new-era-with-move-to-cargo-jets

Canadian passenger airline WestJet to launch freighter division

A white WestJet plane axcends with snow-covered mountains as backdrop.

Add Canada’s WestJet to the growing list of passenger airlines creating all-cargo fleets to grab a piece of the booming e-commerce market and diversify their business.

On Wednesday, Calgary-based WestJet announced it will acquire a small fleet of converted Boeing 737-800 freighters and begin dedicated cargo service to support the needs of freight forwarders, shippers and other Canadian firms amid robust demand for air transport.

The privately held company plans to start service with four of the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/canadian-passenger-airline-westjet-to-launch-freighter-division

Air Canada suspends routes as COVID restrictions bite travel

A gray/white Air Canada jet takes off on an overcast day with snow in the foreground.

Air Canada (TSX: AC) is reducing passenger system capacity by 25% and laying off 1,700 workers in the first quarter due to new Canadian travel restrictions aimed at curbing the resurgence of COVID-19, the company said Wednesday.

More than 200 employees in the airline’s regional express division are also being furloughed. Air Canada said it is working with unions to mitigate the impact on employees. The company released 20,000 workers in May.

The first-quarter reduction in flights will put...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/air-canada-suspends-routes-as-covid-restrictions-bite-travel

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