WestJet continues to be the strongest player in Canadian aviation

Calgary-based WestJet continues to outshine legacy rival Air Canada as the low-cost carrier appears to be excelling in every facet of its business. Recent high-profile launches in the US transborder business markets of New York and Chicago are furthering the carrier's push to expand its ranks of business passengers, and a partnership with Delta on connections through New York will bolster WestJet's goal of enlarging its presence in the US transborder markets. At the same time, communities are continuing their lobbying efforts to secure WestJet's low fare brand to their regions in the hopes of either gaining improved air access or introducing rationalised pricing on monopoly routes. All this is occurring as WestJet reported significant traffic growth of 7.2% in May-2012 compared with 1.8% growth at larger rival Air Canada.

WestJet made pivotal moves beginning in May-2012 when it launched flights from Vancouver and Calgary to Chicago O'Hare followed by the Jun-2012 debut of flights in the high-yielding business market of New York-Toronto.