Calgary-based WestJet gets first of 10 new Dreamliners

CALGARY (660 NEWS) – A big coup for Calgary-based WestJet, which welcomed the first of 10 Dreamliners to YYC Calgary International Airport on Thursday.

The airline will use the planes for longer-range destinations, and three of them will be hubbed out of Calgary.

“Today’s delivery marks a new chapter for WestJet,” WestJet President and CEO Ed Sims said in a news release. “Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner is one of the most technologically advanced aircraft ever flown and is the perfect platform for our transition to a global network carrier.”

The 320-seat plane will offer economy, premium and business cabins and it will feature turbulence-dampening technology designed to improve air quality and reduce jet lag.

The airline until now has run on a lot of its routes through its 737s, their MAX and 767s.

“On the Dreamliner, it is an entirely new aircraft so yes we have our lie-down pods, we have our what used-to-be “plus seating” and so this seating is going to be two by two, it’s going to be a really great experience where you’re going to get blankets and pillows, it’s not the lie-down, but the service is going to be amazing. And then we have our economy seating, which is in the back and is all brand new, the windows in this aircraft are much larger, the lighting is amazing,” said spokesperson Lauren Stewart.

The first plane has been named in honour of WestJet’s founder Clive Beddoe who is also the chairman of the board.

“We think there is no better way to acknowledge his contribution to Canadian aviation,” said Stewart.

The “Clive Beddoe” will begin flying between Calgary and Toronto and then will make its inaugural flight to Gatwick Airport in April.

“It’s a really, really exciting day, we’re all just watching to see when it gets here, and we’re just thrilled that it’s on its way,” she said.

Air Canada first introduced Dreamliners to its fleet back in 2014.

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