News Releases

WestJet developing Flight Light to connect families

Airline's innovative nightlight lets business travellers and frequent fliers share their travel journey with their children

CALGARY, June 6, 2019 /CNW/ - As WestJet's network continues to grow globally so do the needs of guests who travel the most. With business travellers and frequent flyers often away from home, WestJet's Flight Light will let kids watch their parents flight in real-time and show them just how close they are to arriving home. To watch the video, click here.

The Flight Light design takes inspiration from WestJet’s 787 Dreamliner and uses its colours and shape to create a fun and interactive device (CNW Group/WESTJET, an Alberta Partnership)

By using live WestJet flight data, the innovative smart nightlight will project the path of a loved one's flight onto their child's bedroom ceiling. Synced through the specifically-designed Flight Light App on a mobile device before take-off, parents can enter their flight number into the app to provide the Flight Light with live data including their arrival and departure times. Parents will also be able to stay connected by sending messages and emojis to the Flight Light which will be projected in real-time onto the ceiling.

"Caring for our guests also means caring for the ones they love and with Flight Light we hope to bring more comfort and joy to parents and their children during their travel journeys," said Richard Bartrem, WestJet's Vice-President, Marketing Communications. "Being away home can be tough and we wanted to develop a fun tool that could help families stay connected to the ones they love in a truly authentic WestJet way."  

The innovative Flight Light design takes inspiration from the WestJet 787 Dreamliner and uses its colours and shape to create a fun and interactive device. The live flight data, along with an array of starlight, will project from the wing-shaped base of the light and the device also pulsates upon flight arrival.

A detachable flashlight takes the shape of the aircraft body and when the flight path isn't being projected, the flashlight will also be used to project a silhouette of an aircraft. The base of the light also functions as a regular night light designed to keep kids company throughout the night.

As WestJet continues to focus on technological innovation, a prototype of the Flight Light has been created and beta testing is scheduled to begin later this year. More information on Flight Light can be found by visiting westjet.com/flightlight.

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 for three consecutive years as Best Airline in Canada (2017-19) and awarded among travellers' favourite Mid-Sized Airlines in North America (2019). From 2017-2018, WestJet was also awarded among travellers' favorite Mid-Sized and Low-Cost Airlines in North America. The airline was also recognized among the Economy Class winners in 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:
2019/2018/2017 Best Airline in Canada (TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines)
2019 Winner Among Mid-Sized Airlines in North America (TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines)
2018/2017 Winner Among Mid-Sized and Low Cost Airlines – North America (TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines)
2018 Winner – Economy, North America (TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines)
2018 Number-One-Ranked Airline Credit Card in Canada (Rewards Canada)
2018 North America's Best Low-Cost Airline (Skytrax)
2018/2017/2016 Canada's Most Trusted Airline (Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria)

Connect with WestJet on Facebook at facebook.com/westjet
Follow WestJet on Twitter at twitter.com/westjet
Follow WestJet on Instagram instagram.com/westjet/
Subscribe to WestJet on YouTube at youtube.com/westjet
Read the WestJet blog at blog.westjet.com

WestJet’s Flight Light will project live flight data, along with an array of starlight onto a child’s bedroom ceiling (CNW Group/WESTJET, an Alberta Partnership)

WestJet’s Flight Light is an innovative nightlight that lets business travellers and frequent fliers share their travel journey with their children (CNW Group/WESTJET, an Alberta Partnership)

SOURCE WESTJET, an Alberta Partnership

For further information: Media contacts: To contact WestJet media relations, please email media@westjet.com.