News Releases

Airline congratulates its first charitable partner on 25 years of service

CALGARY, Oct. 5, 2011 /CNW/ - WestJet's flagship community investment program, WestJet Cares for Kids, today celebrates and congratulates its long-time charitable partner, Hope Air, on 25 years of services to Canadians. Hope Air was the first charity supported by WestJet through the gift of flight, 15 years ago.

Hope Air is dedicated to arranging free air transportation for Canadians who are in financial need and require non-emergency medical care outside their communities. Over its 25 years of service to Canadians, Hope Air has provided 66,000 flights. Of those, WestJet has donated approximately 7,500 flights. In 2011 alone, WestJet Cares for Kids has shown its commitment to Hope Air through the donation of 898 one-way flights.

"Cost and distance are very real barriers to accessing specialized medical expertise and technologies and WestJet is proud of our continued support of Hope Air through the gift of flight," said Richard Bartrem, WestJet Vice-President, Communications and Community Relations. "For WestJetters, caring for Hope Air clients doesn't end with the gift-of-flight donation. WestJetters work to ensure that Hope Air clients have the best flight experience possible by providing a safe and stress-free experience, being friendly, caring and sharing a smile."

"WestJet's gift-of-flight donations to support Hope Air clients has made WestJet Cares for Kids a vital part of Hope Air's vision that everyone in Canada has access to the healthcare they need," says Doug Keller-Hobson, Executive Director of Hope Air. "WestJet has helped get thousands of Canadians to the healthcare they need by defeating the twin barriers of cost and distance."

WestJet celebrated Hope Air's milestone today with special cake cutting ceremonies in Toronto and Calgary.

About WestJet
WestJet is Canada's favourite airline, offering scheduled service throughout its 71-city North American and Caribbean network. Inducted into Canada's Most Admired Corporate Cultures Hall of Fame and named one of Canada's best employers, WestJet pioneered low-cost flying in Canada. WestJet offers increased legroom, leather seats and live seatback television provided by Bell TV on its modern fleet of 96 Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft. With future confirmed deliveries for an additional 39 aircraft through 2018, WestJet strives to be one of the five most successful international airlines in the world.

Connect with WestJet on Facebook at www.facebook.com/westjet
Follow WestJet on Twitter at www.twitter.com/westjet
Subscribe to WestJet on YouTube at www.youtube.com/westjet

About Hope Air
Hope Air was founded 25 years ago to get financially-disadvantaged Canadians to specialized medical care that is only available in Canada's larger urban centres. Since then, Hope Air has expanded to provide free flights for all illnesses, for all ages, from all across Canada. Last year, Hope Air provided 3,675 flights and in the first six months this year, 2,499 flights were provided - a 71 per cent increase over the same time last year. Hope Air operates three different flight programs: the Commercial Airline Donation Program, with flights provided by many of Canada's national and regional air carriers; the Volunteer Pilot Program, with private pilots contributing their skills and planes; and the Flight Purchase Program, which uses donated funds to purchase airline seats. Currently, 88 per cent of all revenue and in-kind donations are directly applied to Hope Air flight programs. We always work hard to keep administration costs low and our goal is to provide 90 per cent of all donations directly to the Hope Air mission of Getting Canadians To Getting Better! Please visit www.hopeair.ca to learn more.