-- Lower staff costs. Pilot salaries are 75 per cent of the industry average. Other staff salaries are 95 per cent of the industry median. They offer generous stock options to compensate for this. In 2002 they paid out $15 million in profit sharing to employees. Westjet uses 75 employees to support each plane, whereas Air Canada uses 180. Westjet emloyees are not unionized.

I think that this is the key to the financial success thus far. As long as Westjet can keep the featherbedders away, they will do fine. When a union steps in and imposes absurd rules and regulations, it will be the beginning of the end.