WestJet unveils its Dreamliner 'Spirit of Canada' to the world

Inspiration behind new livery, interior elements and logo revealed

CALGARY, May 8, 2018 /CNW/ - WestJet today unveiled its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner livery, logo and cabin interior including the airline's first-ever business class cabin. The reveal is part of WestJet's lead-up to the arrival of its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners in early 2019.  

Details, including images, video and an immersive 360-degree experience of each cabin, are available on the WestJet Dreamliner Hub. A Facebook Live of the reveal event can also be seen here.

"The introduction of Boeing's 787-9 Dreamliner, a state-of-the-art aircraft, is the dawn of a new era for WestJet and the next step in our transformation to a global network airline," said Ed Sims, WestJet President and CEO. "The updated livery is modern and dynamic while the interior is world-class, distinctly Canadian and uniquely WestJet. Both reflect WestJet's transition from a regional airline in 1996 to a new era of connecting Canada with the world and bringing the world to Canada."

WestJet has firm orders of 10 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft and options for another 10, all of which will feature the new livery, logo and interior.

THREE-CLASS CABIN
The WestJet Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner features a three-class cabin including business class seating, premium economy and economy seating. The design was created by PriestmanGoode, a design consultancy firm located in London, England, specializing in transportation and travel branding. 

Drawing from Canadian themes, the cabin interior welcomes guests with a rich colour palette: a soothing alpine lake blue in Economy class; aurora‑inspired shades and tones in Premium Economy; and in Business Class, luxuriously rich earth tones inspired by the splendour of Canadian summers.

Business Class will feature touchscreen service and on-demand dining that allows the traveller to define exactly how they like to fly. When it's time to relax and fully unwind, lay-flat mattresses, bedding and turn-down service will offer WestJet guests the opportunity to enjoy a tranquil flight.

Premium Economy will offer comfort enhancements and service with an elevated guest experience. WestJet will also offer a premium menu, a self-serve social area, and more space to move and relax.

In Economy, guests will discover oversized, self-dimming windows, and leading-edge in-flight entertainment and connectivity with in-seat device charging.

AIRCRAFT LIVERY AND LOGO
The updated logo and livery was overseen by Ove Brand Design. Boeing and Teague, a Seattle-based design firm, implemented the design on the aircraft.

The font has been updated to Bliss, give the WestJet wordmark a more uniform and current style, while retaining the Maple Leaf symbol in a more contemporary and bold look. The logo also now uses a single colour to soften the regional emphasis on "west."

In addition to the updated stylized Maple Leaf on the aircraft tail, another nod to WestJet's heritage is in the form of the Canadian flag appearing at the front of the aircraft. The new livery will also marry both of Canada's official languages with, "The Spirit of Canada" appearing on one side of the aircraft and the French translation, "L'esprit du Canada" on the other, both extending across the middle of the aircraft fuselage.

The livery will gradually appear across WestJet's entire fleet as new aircraft are delivered in 2018 and as aircraft are repainted in their normal cycle. The Boeing 737 MAX-8 will be the first aircraft in the new livery appearing in June.

This summer, WestJet's growing fleet will operate an average of 777 daily flights to 90 destinations. The airline recently announced its first foray to the European mainland with daily direct flights between Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) and Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in Paris starting May 31.

ADDITIONAL QUOTES
Louis Saint-Cyr, Vice-President Guest Experience, WestJet 
"Throughout the aircraft cabin, the interior design takes inspiration from iconic Canadian landscapes. Our guests' inflight comfort is enhanced by the uncompromising quality of the interior finish and custom details. Both WestJet and our guests are on their way to bigger things, but as only WestJet can, we will make the journey as enjoyable as the destination."

Richard Bartrem, Vice-President Marketing Communications, WestJet
"WestJet is a proudly Canadian, modern, and innovative airline. With our distinctly Canadian guest experience delivered by our more than 13,000 WestJetters, we are truly bringing the Spirit of Canada to the world. We are an international airline with headquarters and roots in Western Canada, yet we will never forget where we started in 1996."

Michel Viau, President and CEO, Ove
"This updated design retains the WestJet wordmark, but in a more modern font and with a more refined feel. Although WestJet is an airline based in Western Canada, it is an international carrier, which is the reasoning behind using a single colour across the full WestJet wordmark. This is the most Canadian airline and it's now truly reflected in the new look and logo."

Ben Rowan, Director PriestmanGoode and Design Lead
"We set out to create a design tour of Canada on-board WestJet's new fleet of Boeing Dreamliners, taking inspiration from the country's stunning landscapes. From the luxurious, rich, earthy tones of the Canadian summer that has inspired Business Class, to the aurora inspired Premium Economy, and the fresh, invigorating tones of an Alpine lake in Economy, this new interior scheme will provide an enhanced and complete passenger experience that is uniquely WestJet. We believe this new in-cabin design will ensure WestJet can compete confidently in new markets."

About WestJet
Together with WestJet's regional airline, WestJet Encore, we offer scheduled service to more than 100 destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe and to more than 175 destinations in over 20 countries through our airline partnerships. WestJet Vacations offers affordable, flexible vacations to more than 60 destinations and the choice of more than 800 hotels, resorts, condos and villas.  Members of the WestJet Rewards program earn WestJet dollars on flights, vacation packages and more. Members use WestJet dollars towards the purchase of flights and vacations packages to any WestJet destination with no blackout periods, and have access to Member Exclusive fares offering deals to WestJet destinations throughout our network and those of our partner airlines.

WestJet is proud to be recognized as Best Airline in Canada and Travellers' Choice winner – North America for 2017 and 2018 in the TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines. The airline was also named the Travellers' Choice Winner – Economy, North America, 2018. All awards are based on authentic reviews from the travelling public on TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site. We are one of very few airlines globally that does not commercially overbook.

WestJet is publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol WJA. For more information about everything WestJet, please visit westjet.com.  

Recent recognition includes:
2018/2017 Best Airline in Canada and Travellers' Choice Winner Mid-Sized and Low Cost Airlines – North America (TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines)
2018 Travellers' Choice Winner – Economy, North America (TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines)
2017/2016 Canada's Most Trusted Airline (Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria)
2016 Canada's most reputable company for Corporate Social Responsibility (Reputation Institute)
2016/2015/2014/2013/2012 Ranked top three for Canadian Brands (Canadian Business Magazine)
2016/2015/2014/2013 WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard ranked #1 in Canada (MoneySense magazine)

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SOURCE WESTJET, an Alberta Partnership

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