WestJet today announced the first 3 international destinations served by its 787-9 aircraft for 2019. Overview.

WestJet’s first 3 B787-9 destinations from Calgary (YYC)

A few months ago, WestJet announced its order for about 20 Boeing 787-9 (Dreamliner) aircraft, which would allow it to compete with Air Canada on the international market… and business!

In fact, WestJet will introduce a business class on these aircraft that promises to truly compete with Air Canada’s new Signature Class!

These new devices will consist of:

• 16 seats in business class (arranged in 1/2/1 with direct aisle access for all seats)

• 28 seats in economy privilege class (arranged in 2/3/2)

• 260 seats in economy class (arranged in 3/3/3)

We have just learned that the first destinations served by these brand new aircraft:

Our opinion on these destinations

It’s amazing to see WestJet using its first B787-9s to destinations it has been flying to ever since:

• St John’s YYT (Dublin)
• Halifax YHZ (Paris),
• Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver (London Gatwick)

One would have expected to see WestJet competing directly with Air Canada on business destinations, notably in Asia, for example, on the very lucrative Shanghai/Hong Kong routes.

Let’s just say that with these aircraft, even though they are equipped with business and premium economy classes, WestJet is competing with Air Transat on markets that are… vacation!

Bottom Line

Compared to Air Canada, WestJet is experiencing financial difficulties (the company recently experienced its first loss in 13 years…), and has had to cut some of the routes they had just opened (we think in particular of Quebec City-Montreal, which will stop on October 28, 2018) and reduce other services from Toronto, Edmonton or Calgary, especially to American cities.

This raises questions about WestJet’s strategy today:

• it created its low-cost airline“Swoop” (to compete with Air Canada Rouge and other carriers)
• but at the same time it has bet on B737 MAX – single-aisle aircraft – to serve transatlantic destinations
• and acquired B787-9s configured like Air Canada to target the business clientele… but to finally serve “vacation” destinations against Air Transat

Only time will tell if WestJet’s choices have paid off in reversing the trend!