Editing WestJet (section)

===2017–2019: Transition to full-service carrier===
[[File:C-FONK Swoop Boeing 737-8CT s n 40835 (39783249613).jpg|thumb|A [[Swoop (airline)|Swoop]] [[Boeing 737 Next Generation|Boeing 737-800]]. WestJet established the [[low-cost carrier|low-cost]] subsidiary in 2017, which ceased operations on October 28, 2023, due to its re-integration.]]
In April 2017, WestJet announced plans to launch an ultra-low-cost carrier in late 2017.<ref>{{cite news|title=WestJet plans to launch new discount airline|url=http://www.macleans.ca/economy/business/westjet-plans-to-launch-new-discount-airline/|access-date=April 21, 2017 |work=[[Maclean's]]|date=April 20, 2017}}</ref> The new airline would operate using Boeing 737-800 aircraft, and compete with new entrants to the market, such as [[Flair Airlines]].<ref>{{cite news|title=WestJet to launch 'ultra-low-cost' no-frills carrier|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/west-jet-westjet-ultra-low-cost-carrier-airline-calgary-lower-fares-1.4077103|access-date=April 22, 2017|work=[[CBC News]]|date=April 20, 2017}}</ref> The launch of the new airline, named [[Swoop (airline)|Swoop]], was delayed until June 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/westjet-discount-airline-1.4230251 |title=WestJet delays launch of discount airline until 2018 |date=August 1, 2017|work=CBC News}}</ref>

On December 6, 2017, WestJet and [[Delta Air Lines]] signed a preliminary memorandum of understanding to extend their current codeshare agreement into a joint venture, pending regulatory and board approval.<ref>{{cite web |title=Delta and WestJet agree to form joint venture |url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/delta-and-westjet-agree-to-form-joint-venture-662260053.html |website=Cision |publisher=WestJet |access-date=June 2, 2018}}</ref> On July 19, 2018, WestJet and Delta Air Lines signed a definitive ten-year agreement into a joint venture between the two airlines.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.delta.com/delta-and-westjet-create-new-transborder-joint-venture|title=Delta and WestJet to create new transborder joint venture &#124; Delta News Hub|work=Delta News Hub |access-date=January 8, 2021}}</ref> This joint venture would have served more than 95% of the Canada–U.S. demand. The airlines' current frequent flier programs would also be updated to be more closely aligned, and the airlines will be co-located at key hub airports. However, in November 2020, Delta and WestJet agreed to scrap their plans for a joint venture, as the demands of the [[United States Department of Transportation]] were seen "unreasonable and unacceptable" by both airlines.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Shepardson|first=David|date=November 21, 2020|title=Delta, WestJet scrap planned joint venture after U.S. demands|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-delta-air-westjet-idUSKBN28105J|access-date=April 12, 2021}}</ref>

While announcing an expansion of the senior leadership team on January 11, 2018, Gregg Saretsky reconfirmed the airline's strategic goal to become a global, full-service carrier.<ref>{{cite web|title=WestJet Prepares for Global Expansion|url=http://westjet2.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=1308|publisher=WestJet|access-date=January 20, 2018}}</ref>

On March 8, 2018, the CEO of WestJet, [[Gregg Saretsky]] retired.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/westjet-airlines-chief-executive-gregg-saretsky-retires-replaced-by-ed-sims-1.3834169|title=WestJet Airlines chief executive Gregg Saretsky retires, replaced by Ed Sims|date=March 8, 2018|work=[[CTV News]]|access-date=March 8, 2018}}</ref> He was replaced by company vice-president, [[Ed Sims]].

On May 8, 2018, WestJet announced that it would be adding the [[Boeing 787 Dreamliner|Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner]] to its fleet. The first aircraft was delivered to the airline in January 2019.<ref name="auto"/>

On May 10, 2018, WestJet's unionized pilots voted 91 percent in favour of strike action. The key issue in negotiations was the outsourcing of work to operate [[Swoop (airline)|Swoop]] aircraft.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/westjet-pilots-vow-not-to-disrupt-long-weekend-as-a-goodwill-gesture-1.3924225|title=WestJet Pilots Vow Not to Disrupt Long Weekend as a Goodwill Gesture|date=May 10, 2018|work=[[CTV News]]|access-date=May 11, 2018}}</ref> On May 25, 2018, WestJet and the [[Air Line Pilots Association, International|Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA)]] agreed to a settlement process through the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://westjet.mediaroom.com/2018-05-25-Settlement-process-reached-between-WestJet-Pilots-and-WestJet|title=Settlement process reached between WestJet Pilots and WestJet|access-date=June 15, 2018}}</ref>

On May 14, 2018, WestJet announced new 2-2 [[Premium economy class|Premium Economy]] seating to replace its previous 3-3 seats which had a middle seat blocker. The new seats feature a wider configuration on 737 aircraft. The offering began on its Boeing 737 MAX-8 aircraft in winter 2018,<ref name="WJComfortRedifined">{{cite web |title=Comfort Redefined |url=https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/travel-info/inflight/comfortredefined?sm_cid=social:brand:comfort-redefined:youtube |website=WestJet |access-date=August 31, 2018}}</ref> with all 737s being reconfigured by 2020.

On May 31, 2018, WestJet operated its first flight to [[Continental Europe|mainland Europe]] with the inaugural flight from [[Halifax Stanfield International Airport]] to [[Paris]]' [[Charles de Gaulle Airport]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://westjet.mediaroom.com/2018-06-01-WestJet-launches-first-flight-to-the-City-of-Light|title=WestJet launches first flight to the City of Light|access-date=June 15, 2018}}</ref>

The [[Canadian Union of Public Employees]] (CUPE) announced its application to the Canadian Government for certification of WestJet's approximately 3,200 flight attendants on July 9, 2018. On July 31, 2018, the Government of Canada via the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) issued an interim order certifying CUPE as the accredited union for WestJet mainline flight attendants.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/cupe-files-application-with-cirb-to-represent-westjet-flight-attendants-1.4006964|title=CUPE files application with CIRB to represent WestJet flight attendants {{!}} CTV News|website=www.ctvnews.ca|date=July 10, 2018 |access-date=January 28, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/westjet-union-cupe-says-1.4769327|title=3,000 WestJet cabin crew employees officially unionized, CUPE says |website=CBC News|date=August 1, 2018 |first1=David |last1= Bell |access-date=January 28, 2019}}</ref>

[[File:WestJet 787-9 takeoff.jpg|thumb|A WestJet [[Boeing 787 Dreamliner|Boeing 787-9]] taking off from [[Toronto Pearson International Airport]]]]

On October 12, 2018, WestJet announced its new branding, along with details on the arrival on the [[Boeing 787 Dreamliner|Boeing 787-9]]. WestJet changed its slogan from "''Owners Care''" to "''Love where you're going''", announced a new logo (however, such logo was seen in May with the announcement of the [[Boeing 787 Dreamliner#787-9|787 Dreamliner]] along with its livery), announced the Boeing 787 routes and launch dates, and an overall new brand image. Boeing 787 flights were announced to commence on April 28, 2019, with service from [[Calgary International Airport]] to London [[Gatwick Airport]], with service to [[Paris]] and [[Dublin]] following.<ref name="NewWestJet2018">{{cite web |title=Welcome to the new WestJet |date=October 12, 2018 |url=https://blog.westjet.com/welcome-to-the-new-westjet/
|website=WestJet |accessdate=October 13, 2018}}</ref>

On May 13, 2019, WestJet announced it had reached an agreement to be purchased by [[Onex Corporation]] for $5 billion Canadian dollars. At the time, it had 13 Boeing 737 Max jets in suspended operation, with another 57 of the type ordered from the manufacturer. The purchase price of WestJet was slashed heavily due to the grounding of the MAX aircraft.<ref name=gmjun>{{cite news |title=Onex slashed proposed offer for WestJet because of grounding of Boeing 737 Max planes |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-onex-slashes-proposed-offer-for-westjet-due-to-grounding-of-boeing-73/ |publisher=The Globe and Mail Inc. |date=June 24, 2019}}</ref>