By Skies Magazine | May 27, 2013 Estimated reading time 1 minute, 33 seconds.
WestJet Encore’s first Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft are being flight tested at Toronto Downsview Airport. C-FHEN, pictured here, is believed to be the second aircraft destined for Encore. WestJet converted a conditional order placed on June 28, 2012, to a firm purchase order last August for up to 45 Q400 NextGen airliners. The deal covers 20 aircraft with options for 25 more. The list price for the firm order is valued at approximately US$683 million, and could increase to approximately US$1.59 billion if the 25 options are exercised.
The aircraft will be flying for WestJet Encore, the airline’s regional division, which will launch this June in Western Canada. The deal makes WestJet the fifth operator and fourth airline in Canada using the Q400. The initial destinations served by Wesjet Encore starting next month will be Fort St. John and Nanaimo, B.C. There will also be schedule improvements in Alberta and Saskatchewan, including in Grande Prairie, Edmonton and Calgary. Brandon, Man., will be added, connecting to Calgary as of Sept. 3, as more aircraft are delivered.
WestJet Encore will be using a new operator’s certificate that will be separate from WestJet’s, with a new ICAO code: WJE (instead of WJA).
