Westjet firms up order for 20 Q400 plus 25 options . . .

[bizjets101]

WestJet Order 20 Bombardier Q400 NextGen Aircraft - plus 25 options Bombardier Press Release

August 1, 2012 — Toronto
Aerospace

Bombardier Aerospace announced today that the conditional order placed by WestJet, an Alberta partnership on June 28, 2012, has been converted to a firm purchase agreement for up to 45 Q400 NextGen airliners. The transaction includes 20 firm-ordered Q400 NextGen aircraft and options on an additional 25 of the aircraft. WestJet’s letter of intent to acquire these aircraft was announced on May 1, 2012.

As previously announced, based on the Q400 NextGen aircraft list price, the firm order is valued at approximately $683 million US and could increase to approximately $1.59 billion US if the 25 options are converted to firm orders.

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[co-joe]

Oh what a surprise...Who would have guessed the Dash won the competition...

[imarai]

What ?? The XIAN MA600 lost out ?....

[iflyforpie]

Oh what a surprise...Who would have guessed the Dash won the competition...

Considering how many Canadian operators have gone with the ATR and that the Dash isn't a Boeing product, I think it was still anybody's guess.

[CAL]

I really think this is exciting times for westjet!

[Deltawidget]

Has WJ announced which routes may emerge? Given the pick of the Q over the ATR, would that not suggest slightly longer routes 500nm+? From what I remember, the ATR had the advantage on sub 500nm routes?

[peakbagger]

I love the second pic! Although I have not seen too many Q400's buzzing through the peaks of Waterton Park. I can appreciate a pic of Alberta and an airplane any day of the week.

[Big Pistons Forever]

Westjet wipsawed Bombardier and ATR to get a great deal out of Bombardier. Rumour is that they got the lowest unit price ever. Westjet did not have 29 consecutive profitable quarters by accident. They sweat every penny on every part of their operation, and that is how you succeed as an airline, not by recycling failed ideas and screwing your employees while you loot the company under the guise of "unlocking shareholder value".......

[ea306]

I agree Peakbagger.

The second photo looks particularly good!

Exciting times for Westjet

[bizjets101]

Toronto Star's Steve Russell (photographer) toured the plant yesterday, along with Westjet staff to view their 1st Q400's on the line.

[Youngback]

Was wondering what was going on with the Westjet flags on the entrance to the 400 plant. Thought maybe they had a delivery yesterday.

[.Ben]

+1 on the route ideas, anyone have any idea what routes these might be taking up?

i flew on a Q400 for the first time in october, was impressed at how much quieter and smoother? it was than the smaller/older dash 8 variants id flew on from CYYZ to CYYB

[ragbagflyer]

......and that is how you succeed as an airline, not by recycling failed ideas and screwing your employees while you loot the company under the guise of "unlocking shareholder value".......

Or so it used to be....

http://business.financialpost.com/2012/ ... a-shrinks/

Mr. Saretsky said he estimates Encore will have a 50% cost advantage over Air Canada’s main regional partner, Chorus Aviation Inc.

But it will also allow WestJet to convert some existing bases, like Quebec City, into regional bases and pay the employees there the lower Encore wages and benefits.

He said WestJet also wants to revisit the benefits received by the mainline employees.

“We have found ourselves because of where the industry has gone — mostly backwards — that we’re well above market in a lot of those,” he said. “We’re going to revisit that.”

[invertedattitude]

There's how you ruin your workforce, start paying CSA's less because they're loading a Dash-8 instead of a 737 even though the job is identical.

[invertedattitude]

You forgot to mention in that quote, that WestJet is looking at cutting benefits and the like to mainline employees as well:

He said WestJet also wants to revisit the benefits received by the mainline employees.

“We have found ourselves because of where the industry has gone — mostly backwards — that we’re well above market in a lot of those,” he said. “We’re going to revisit that.”

[ragbagflyer]

I'm confused because you just quoted me on what you said I forgot to mention in the quote

[invertedattitude]

I'm confused because you just quoted me on what you said I forgot to mention in the quote

Yea, sorry about that, could have been a little less ambiguous

[invertedattitude]

I'm confused because you just quoted me on what you said I forgot to mention in the quote

Yea, sorry about that, could have been a little less ambiguous