WestJet strategy shift [was B787 Order Cancellation]
Jan 30, 2023, 7:23 pm
#107
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 27
No. I think it’s more trying to take complexity out of the operation and focusing on routes that make the most profit. After 2.5 years of staggering losses, there’s not much appetite chasing market share that doesn’t add much to the bottom line.
Jan 30, 2023, 7:38 pm
#108
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: YVR
Programs: Erstwhile Accidental AC E35K
Posts: 2,920
A spokesperson for WestJet said the suspensions are due to "compounding factors such as staffing levels across the industry, inflation and deploying our aircraft to meet the demand of our guests while enabling us to re-position our investments to better serve Canadians for years to come."
But however they spin it, I'm not feeling confident about booking anything on WS more than a month out.
Last edited by Sopwith; Jan 30, 2023 at 8:30 pm Reason: More editorializing.
Jan 30, 2023, 9:32 pm
#109
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
Programs: AC 75K, Hertz President’s Circle, Accor Gold, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 10,071
I wonder how RBC feels about their relationship with a westjet retrenched in the west? Surely they can’t be happy as many central Canadian customers would have a hard time seeing the benefit of the Westjet credit cards. I find AC can take me to the world and Westjet is able to take me to Regina 😂
Jan 30, 2023, 10:00 pm
#111
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 8,011
From CBC:
"A spokesperson for WestJet said the suspensions are due to "compounding factors such as staffing levels across the industry,.... deploying our aircraft to meet the demand of our guests while enabling us to re-position our investments to better serve Canadians for years to come."
"A spokesperson for WestJet said the suspensions are due to "compounding factors such as staffing levels across the industry,.... deploying our aircraft to meet the demand of our guests while enabling us to re-position our investments to better serve Canadians for years to come."
Unless WS is parking planes, in the simplest sense, they will need the same number of employees.
Jan 30, 2023, 10:28 pm
#112
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 980
When the Atlantic route cancellation announcements came out last year, you could no longer book YHZ-Europe flights for S23, so this announcement is not new news. It was just quietly (conveniently?) brushed under the carpet between then and now.
Jan 30, 2023, 11:00 pm
#113
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 27
These YHZ- Europe flights were crewed with YYZ based crews. I believe these pairings were not the most efficient use of crews so that may be what they’re getting at with the staffing issues.
Jan 30, 2023, 11:31 pm
#114
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: YVR
Programs: Erstwhile Accidental AC E35K
Posts: 2,920
WestJet has cancelled its flights between three Canadian cities and Europe for this summer.
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WestJet said tickets for the summer 2023 European routes from Halifax were never made available for sale.
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WestJet said tickets for the summer 2023 European routes from Halifax were never made available for sale.
Jan 31, 2023, 8:53 am
#115
Join Date: Jan 2023
Location: YEG
Programs: AC35K, WS Silver, Accor Platinum, Marriot Gold
Posts: 35
WestJet is also expanding to the Middle East (Dubai) and Asia (Japan) later this year but through Calgary. Not sure what the market share is for Western Canadians traveling to those locations, we could see more cancellation announcements next year.
Jan 31, 2023, 9:11 am
#116
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 980
Dubai? When was that announced?
Jan 31, 2023, 9:14 am
#117
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Copenhagen
Programs: skyteam
Posts: 582
No Dubai. That has not been announced. Narita yes.
Jan 31, 2023, 5:54 pm
#119
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: YMJ (YQR)
Programs: Qantas LTG, WestJet Plat
Posts: 330
They were never loaded into the schedule for 2023, although the YYZ and YVR flights were, but deleted about a month or so ago. I'm assuming they've had a significant number of enquiries, or perhaps some political pushing in Nova Scotia, leading to this announcement. If nothing else, it gets the "bad news" out of the way so that the formal Summer 2023 announcement can be all "good news".