MONTREAL - Calgary-based WestJet Encore Ltd. has signed a firm purchase agreement for five Q400 turboprop airliners. This transaction is a conversion of a batch of five options booked by the carrier's parent company WestJet and follows the first conversion of five option aircraft announced on March 27, 2014, bringing the number of option aircraft exercised to 10.
The initial total of 25 option aircraft was part of the original contract announced on August 1, 2012 that included WestJet's firm order for 20 Q400s. Based on the list price of the aircraft, the newly announced transaction is valued at approximately USD167 million.
WestJet Encore launched in June 2013 operating 10 departures daily to two destinations with two Q400s and 131 employees. Today, it operates 90 departures daily from hubs in Calgary, Alberta and Toronto, Ontario to 19 destinations with 13 Q400 aircraft and approximately 500 employees.
The airline has announced plans to introduce service to Québec City, Québec; Fredericton, New Brunswick and Penticton, British Columbia in 2015.