FlyForLess.ca
  • HOME
  • FLIGHTS
    • Cheap Flights
    • Air Canada Flights
    • WestJet Flights
    • Flights to USA
    • International Flights
  • HOTELS
  • CAR RENTALS
    • Rental Cars
  • DESTINATIONS
  • ACTIVITIES
  • DEALS
WestJet says no cuts, sticks with expansion plans

WestJet says no cuts, sticks with expansion plans

June 17, 2008

WestJet Airlines Ltd will not follow Air Canada with moves to cut staff or capacity in the face of high fuel costs as its fleet and seasonal capacity shifts make such measures unnecessary, an executive with the No. 2 Canadian carrier said on Tuesday.

"It's business as usual for us -- no plans for capacity cutbacks, no plans for layoffs," WestJet Vice President Richard Bartrem said."

The airline moves its capacity between domestic and international routes twice a year, based on Canadians' travel patterns, a strategy that has kept traffic numbers and yields strong.

WestJet has predicted a 16-percent capacity increase this year. It plans to add two more new-generation Boeing 737 aircraft over the remainder of this year and another seven in 2009, bringing its total fleet to 84.

"That remains on course," Bartrem said.

Air Canada said on Tuesday it would lay off 2,000 employees and reduce its autumn and winter capacity by 7 percent to cope with sky-high oil prices, which are causing financial pain throughout the airline industry.

Oil prices this week flirted with $140 a barrel. U.S. light crude futures were down $1.24 at $133.37 a barrel in afternoon trading on Tuesday.

WestJet has slapped fuel surcharges on its fares along with Air Canada. The company can still reduce or cancel them if fuel prices drop, he said.

"On the other side, if we're seeing sustained prices at the $150 or $200 mark, we'd have to review it again at that time to see if we would need to increase it," Bartrem said.


FlyForLess is not affiliated with any media companies nor does it represent or work for WestJet. This article is published with the sole purpose of making information available for those who wish to stay informed on WestJet's actualities.

    Would you like to receive travel deals by email?

    You can unsubscribe at any time
SEND ME DEALS
Save on hotels
Find the best car rental deals!
Book destination activities worldwide
Discount Airline Tickets  |  Flights  |  Airports  |  Privacy Policy  | About Us  |  Contact Us

FlyForLess.ca is an affiliate of Aviasales/JetRadar, a leading flight search engine that allows users
to compare airfares from over 700 airlines and travel agencies in order to find the cheapest flight tickets.
We offer discount airline tickets with a database of over 2 million international airfares, as well as car rentals, hotels, and vacation packages
with departures from cities across Canada. Book your cheap flights, discount car rentals, and special hotel rates with FlyForLess.ca
©2025 FlyForLess.ca. All rights reserved