WestJet Airlines to launch low fare regional airline

WestJet Airlines recently announced that it will be launching a low fare, no frills regional airline to further add to its revenues. The move of the airline will intensify competition in smaller domestic markets and pit it against its rival Air Canada for leisure and business travelers.

Gregg Saretsky, President and CEO of WestJet Airlines, remarked that the decision of the airline is surely the next logical step in its evolution.

The regional airline is expected to be up and running before the end of 2013, said Saretsky. WestJet Airlines has indicated that it will place an order with either Bombardier or ATR later this year.

According to the airline, it is mulling to buy Bombardier’s Q400 NextGen 70 to 80-seat aircraft designed for short hauls and Italian-French company ATR’s 72-600 series.

However, the regional fleet will have only one type of aircraft for seamless and easy operations.

Currently, WestJet Airlines flight tickets are not available for long-haul journeys to Asia or Europe as the airline does not have the required capacity.

To make WestJet flight reservations easier for its passengers, the Calgary-based airline has announced partnerships with British Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Air France and KLM to expand its global reach.