Could WestJet be looking toward further international expansion?
Posted February 29, 2016 4:57 pm.
Last Updated March 1, 2016 6:52 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – As WestJet looks to hire people speaking different languages – the airline isn’t denying a big international expansion could be coming.
Aviation Expert Howard Slutsken says West Jet’s new Vancouver to London, England flight is a good way to test the waters. He suggests this is more indication the airline is further going head to head with Air Canada.
“Having choice is always great and if passengers have the choice between two different carriers instead of one, I think everyone wins,” he says.
Lauren Stewart with West Jet says the company wants to be prepared and that’s why it’s hiring people who speak languages like Mandarin, Cantonese, Italian, and Portuguese.
“We don’t want to be behind the eight ball if we do make the decision to fly to any of these destinations so it’s just pure good business sense.”
Stewart won’t say whether the airline plans to buy any bigger planes, but Slutsken says it’s very possible to service more international destinations with the fleet West Jet currently has.
