Bombardier Aerospace and WestJet today announced the delivery of
the first of 20 Q400 NextGen turboprop airliners ordered by
WestJet. 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.
Today, 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. "With an unmatched balance of speed, comfort,
cost efficiencies and highly regarded environmental qualities, the
Q400 NextGen aircraft will also allow us to operate more
efficiently as we enhance service on more routes. This versatility
opens up many new possibilities and options for Canadians, as well
as increases the frequency of flights to better serve
travellers."
"It was a delight to see the Q400 NextGen turboprop unveiled in
WestJet's iconic colours today as WestJet Encore now officially
kicks off its Q400 aircraft's western-Canada migration," said Mike
Arcamone, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. "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. 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."
WestJet began operations in 1996 with 220 employees, three jets
and five destinations. Today the airline has more than 9,000
employees, over 103 aircraft and serves 86 destinations in North
and Central America and the Caribbean.
Bombardier has booked firm orders for 468 Q400 and Q400 NextGen
aircraft. Worldwide, Q400 and Q400 NextGen aircraft have
transported more than 243 million passengers and have logged over
4.2 million flight hours and more than 4.5 million take-offs and
landings in service with close to 50 operators in over 30 countries
on five continents.
About Q400 NextGen aircraft
The Q400 NextGen turboprop airliner, which is built at
Bombardier's Toronto, Ontario facility, is the most recent
development in the evolution of the Q400 aircraft, and the advanced
successor to Bombardier's Dash 8/Q-Series family of aircraft.
Optimized for short-haul operations, the "comfortably greener," 70-
to 80-seat Q400 NextGen aircraft is a large, fast, quiet and
fuel-efficient turboprop. It provides an ideal balance of passenger
comfort and operating economics with a reduced environmental
footprint.
About WestJet
WestJet is Canada's most preferred airline, offering scheduled
service to 86 destinations in North America, Central America and
the Caribbean. Powered by an award-winning culture of care, WestJet
pioneered low-cost flying in Canada. Recognized nationally as a top
employer, WestJet now has more than 9,000 WestJetters across
Canada. Operating a fleet of more than 100 Boeing Next-Generation
737 and Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft, WestJet strives to be one
of the five most successful international airlines in the
world.
Connect with WestJet on Facebook at www.facebook.com/westjet
Follow WestJet on Twitter at www.twitter.com/westjet
Subscribe to WestJet on YouTube at www.youtube.com/westjet
About Bombardier
Bombardier is the world's only manufacturer of both planes and
trains. Looking far ahead while delivering today, Bombardier is
evolving mobility worldwide by answering the call for more
efficient, sustainable and enjoyable transportation everywhere. Our
vehicles, services and, most of all, our employees are what make us
a global leader in transportation.
Bombardier is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. Our shares are
traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD) and we are listed on the
Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America Indexes. In the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, we posted revenues of $16.8
billion. News and information are available at bombardier.com or
follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.
Notes to editors
Images of Q400 NextGen aircraft in WestJet Encore's livery are
posted with this press release at www.bombardier.com.
Additional information on the Q400 NextGen aircraft is available
at www.q400nextgen.com.
Follow @Bombardier_Aero on Twitter to receive the latest news
and updates from Bombardier Aerospace.
Bombardier, Dash 8, NextGen, Q400, Q-Series and The Evolution of
Mobility are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.
Contacts: Marc Duchesne Bombardier Commercial Aircraft
+1-416-375-3030marc.duchesne@aero.bombardier.com www.bombardier.com
Media Relations 1-888-WJ-4-NEWS
(1-888-954-6397)media@westjet.com
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