News Releases

Second custom-painted WestJet aircraft inspired by Disney's Frozen

CALGARY, Oct. 18, 2015 /CNW/ - WestJet, WestJet Vacations and The Walt Disney Company (Canada) Ltd., Parks & Resorts, have made magic again, unveiling a second custom-painted, Disney-themed aircraft featuring Anna, Elsa and Olaf from Frozen, the highest-grossing animated film of all time.

Like the #MagicPlane featuring Sorcerer Mickey, the images on the #DisneyFrozenThemedPlane tell an enchanting story. The tail of the aircraft features Anna and Elsa celebrating sisterhood and the magic of snow. Moving along the aircraft from back to front, the magic travels to warmer climes where Olaf can be found enjoying a summer day on the beach. The theme carries through to the interior of the aircraft with images on the overhead bins, bulkheads, lavatory mirrors and headrests.

"This aircraft takes the relationship between WestJet and Disney to a completely new level of cool," said Bob Cummings, WestJet Executive Vice-President, Commercial. "Two years ago, we launched the #MagicPlane, our first Disney-themed aircraft, and no matter where it flies throughout our network, it is the most-anticipated and most-photographed aircraft in WestJet history. Today, we are proud to team up with our great friends at Disney to create a sequel like no other."

"To see our vision come to life is so exciting, as we collaborated on this project for over a year.  Only a very small group of us (WestJetters and Disney Artists and Cast Members) knew and we had to keep our secret under wraps… or should I say, on ice," said Marlie Morrison, Managing Director, The Walt Disney Company (Canada) Ltd., Parks & Resorts. "It's a truly unique and unforgettable design that Disney Fans and WestJet guests alike will enjoy for years to come."

Fun facts about the #DisneyFrozenThemedPlane:

• The aircraft was painted in Fort Worth, Texas.
• The paint team included team members from Canada, the United States and Germany. They watched Frozen to get them into the spirit before work began.
• The job took 21 days of 12-hour rotations involving a constant crew of six painters working 24/7.
• The crew used 643.5 litres of paint consisting of 23 colours -- five for the umbrella alone.
• Sparkles were added to the paint in sections to add shimmer and shine as the aircraft moves.
• An airbrush artist was brought in to work on details around the sun, water and castle.
• The inside of the aircraft has decals and headrest covers that mimic the cold-to-warm (back-to-front) theme on the outside of the aircraft.
• There are 54 separate overhead bin doors on the aircraft and each has a unique Frozen decal.
• Several dozen bagels were consumed during the painting of this aircraft (there weren't any doughnut stores nearby). The crew drank more than 100 litres of sweet tea.

Media note: There are still and video assets from today's reveal event, including b-roll and clips with Disney and WestJet executives, available here, on the Media and Investors page of www.westjet.com. More items will be added throughout the day today, so please check back frequently. Please note that these assets will be available via a Dropbox folder until Monday, October 26, 2015, at which time they will be available only on WestJet's YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/westjet.

WestJet serves Orlando, close to the Walt Disney World Resort, with a total of 43 flights per week during peak winter months from Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, London, Kitchener-Waterloo, Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, Moncton, Charlottetown and St. John's.

Guests of WestJet Vacations can save on their next trip to Walt Disney World. Book a minimum seven-night WestJet Vacations package to any Orlando-area hotel before December 31, 2015, for travel until April 7, 2016, and purchase a seven-day Magic Your Way theme park ticket for the price of five days. Air and hotel must be booked together to qualify. For details, please visit www.westjetvacations.com.

About WestJet
We are proud to be Canada's highest-rated airline for customer service, powered by an award-winning culture of care and recognized as one of the country's top employers. We offer scheduled service to 100 destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe. Through our regional airline, WestJet Encore, and with partnerships with airlines representing every major region of the world, we offer our guests more than 150 destinations in more than 20 countries. Leveraging WestJet's extensive network, flight schedule and remarkable guest experience, WestJet Vacations delivers affordable, flexible travel experiences with a variety of accommodation options for every guest. Members of our WestJet Rewards program earn WestJet dollars on flights, vacation packages and more. Our members use WestJet dollars towards the purchase of WestJet flights and vacations packages on any day, at any time, to any WestJet destination with no blackout periods  ̶  even on seat sales. For more information about everything WestJet, please visit westjet.com.

Recent recognition includes:
2015 Best Employers in Canada (Aon Hewitt)
2015/2014/2013 WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard ranked #1 in Canada (MoneySense magazine)
2014/2013 WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard ranked #1 in the Canada's Choice ranking (RewardsCanada.ca)
2014 Interbrand Canada's Best Canadian Brands (Rank #20)
2014 Brands of the Year (Strategy magazine)
2014 Canada's Most Preferred Airline (Ipsos)
2014 Value Airline of the Year (Air Transport World magazine)
2014/2013/2012 Canada's Most Attractive Employer (Randstad)
2014/2013/2012/2011 Highest equity score: airline, vacation package supplier brands (Harris/Decima EquiTrend Study)

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SOURCE WestJet