New Regional Airline 'WestJet Encore' To Commence Operations On June 24

The first of 20 Q400 NextGen turboprop airliners ordered by WestJet was delivered by Bombardier Thursday. The aircraft will be operated by the new regional carrier, WestJet Encore, and will serve multiple destinations, beginning in Western Canada in its first year of service. WestJet also holds options for 25 additional Q400 NextGen aircraft.

Earlier this year, WestJet announced plans to begin service with Encore on June 24, 2013, opening new routes to Fort St. John and Nanaimo, British Columbia, as well as Brandon, Manitoba, on September 3, 2013. Flights to points in Alberta and Saskatchewan are to be added later this year, along with additional flights to cities already served by WestJet.

Bombardier Aerospace hosted a special delivery ceremony in Toronto alongside more than 100 WestJetters, including Gregg Saretsky, President and Chief Executive Officer, WestJet and Ferio Pugliese, President, WestJet Encore, and Executive Vice-President, WestJet. Also on site in Toronto, where the Q400 NextGen airliners are manufactured, were Mike Arcamone, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft, Simon Roberts, Vice-President and General Manager, Turboprop Programs and the Toronto Site, Bombardier Aerospace and guests from the federal, provincial and municipal governments.

"WestJetters have been looking forward to this moment since the Q400 NextGen demo aircraft touched down in Calgary for the first time last year. Today, we are thrilled that this great Canadian turboprop will be the backbone of WestJet Encore's operations, servicing new destinations and effectively connecting more cities," Mr. Pugliese said.

"WestJet has enjoyed remarkable growth since its inception, and as a productivity machine, our made-in-Canada Q400 NextGen aircraft is well equipped to support that tradition and to meet the needs of both this great Canadian airline and its guests," said Mike Arcamone, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. "This very versatile aircraft is efficient on short-haul missions or can use its speed to reach regional destinations farther afield, making it competitive with jets on longer sectors -- a perfect fit for WestJet."

(Image provided by Bombardier)

FMI: www.bombardier.com