Who Owns WestJet?

WestJet was founded in 1996 by a group of five Canadian aviation entrepreneurs: Clive Beddoe, Tim Morgan, David Neeleman, Mark Hill, and Don Bell. The airline launched operations on February 29, 1996, with three Boeing 737-200 aircraft and approximately 200 employees serving six destinations in western Canada. The founders modeled WestJet on the low-cost carrier approach pioneered by Southwest Airlines in the United States, focusing on point-to-point service, a single aircraft type, and low operating costs.

The airline grew rapidly through the late 1990s and early 2000s, expanding from its western Canadian base into eastern Canada. By 2000, WestJet was flying to major cities across the country and had begun challenging Air Canada's dominance on domestic routes. The carrier went public in 1999, listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker WJA. The IPO raised capital that funded fleet expansion and route development.

In 2003, WestJet began installing winglets on its Boeing 737-700 and 737-800 aircraft, becoming a North American pioneer in the technology. Winglets reduce fuel consumption by up to 2.7 percent per flight. The airline also adopted Required Navigation Performance (RNP) procedures, becoming the first Canadian airline to integrate the GPS-based precision approach technology into its flight operations.

WestJet launched WestJet Encore in 2014, a regional subsidiary operating Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft (later rebranded as De Havilland DHC-8-400). Encore expanded service to smaller Canadian communities that could not support mainline jet service, broadening WestJet's domestic network reach.

The airline took delivery of its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner in January 2019, marking its entry into long-haul international service. The 787-9 enabled WestJet to launch transatlantic routes to London, Paris, and Dublin from Calgary. The widebody fleet gave WestJet the range to compete with Air Canada on intercontinental routes for the first time.

The Boeing 737 MAX grounding in March 2019, following two fatal accidents worldwide, forced WestJet to halt operations with its 13 MAX 8 jets. The grounding complicated the Onex acquisition by reducing WestJet's valuation, and the purchase price was adjusted downward. WestJet returned the MAX to service in January 2021 after Transport Canada approved recertification.

Onex Corporation completed its acquisition of WestJet on December 11, 2019, taking the airline private. Under Onex ownership, WestJet underwent a strategic repositioning. In October 2022, CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech and Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announced a partnership designating Calgary International Airport as WestJet's sole global connecting hub. The airline committed to basing its entire Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet in Calgary and planned to double capacity at the airport before the end of the decade.

WestJet launched Swoop, an ultra-low-cost carrier, in June 2018 to compete with Flair Airlines and other budget entrants. Swoop operated Boeing 737-800 aircraft on price-driven routes. On October 28, 2023, WestJet shut down Swoop and folded its operations into the mainline brand, citing the need to streamline operations amid fierce competition.

In March 2022, WestJet announced its intent to acquire Sunwing Airlines and Sunwing Vacations, a Canadian leisure carrier and tour operator. The federal government approved the takeover in March 2023 despite a Competition Bureau warning that the deal would likely result in higher prices and reduced service. WestJet completed the acquisition in May 2023 and announced it would wind down Sunwing Airlines as a separate carrier, integrating it into the mainline business within two years. Sunwing Vacations continues as a tour operator brand.

In September 2025, WestJet placed an order for 60 Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft and 7 additional 787-9 Dreamliners, the largest-ever Canadian order of Boeing airplanes. The order supports WestJet's fleet modernization and growth strategy, with the 737 MAX 10 offering lower per-seat costs and the 787-9 enabling new long-haul route opportunities from Calgary.

The October 2025 stake sale to Delta, Korean Air, and Air France-KLM marked a new phase in WestJet's evolution. The strategic investments position WestJet for deeper network integration with three major global carriers, potentially including future alliance membership.