News Releases

Airline celebrates milestone at bi-annual WestJet Airports Games

CALGARY, Sept. 14 /CNW/ - WestJet today announced a significant milestone
in community investment. WestJet Cares for Kids, WestJet's community
investment program, has donated more flights than ever before to Hope Air, one
of its longest standing charitable partners. A total of 800 gifts of flight
will be given to Hope Air this year, surpassing last year's gift of 627
flights.
The announcement was made today at the bi-annual WestJet Airports Games
in Calgary. Competitors from 27 WestJet cities raised awareness for Hope Air
as they prepared to come to Calgary for the Airports Games.
These games bring ground handling crew and customer service agents
together to compete in a variety of airport related events in a fun and
friendly competitive atmosphere to demonstrate their world-class abilities.
"Hope Air's mandate is getting Canadians to getting better, and this year no
one has been more generous than WestJet when it comes to the gift of flight,"
said Doug Keller-Hobson, Executive Director of Hope Air. "WestJet's gift of
flight will have increased by 28 per cent over 2006 and they have donated more
flights to Hope Air than any other airline this year."
"WestJet has supported Hope Air through the gift of flight for 11 years,"
said Richard Bartrem, WestJet Vice-President of Culture and Communications.
"We are dedicated to supporting children's health through our community
investment program and are honoured to share our gift of flight with such a
caring and dedicated organization. We strive to empower all WestJetters to
make a difference and the WestJetters competing today at the WestJet Airports
Games exemplify this spirit. Beyond this announcement today, our participants
have also raised money across the country to further support Hope Air."
The bi-annual WestJet Airports Games are yet another demonstration of the
WestJet culture. Ground handling crew and customer service agents from all 26
of WestJet's Canadian cities and one U.S. city (Las Vegas) assembled at
WestJet's Calgary Hangar to compete in an array of airport related
competitions today. In total, 54 competitors competed in a variety of airport
related events like a "chock wagon" race, stanchion maze construction and a
baggage tractor pull.

About WestJet

WestJet is Canada's leading low-fare airline offering scheduled service
throughout its 38-city North American and Caribbean network. Named Canada's
most admired corporate culture in 2005 and 2006, WestJet pioneered low-cost
high-value flying in Canada. With increased legroom and leather seats on its
modern fleet of 68 Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft, and live seatback
television provided by Bell ExpressVu on the majority of its fleet, WestJet
strives to be the number one choice for travellers.

About Hope Air

Hope Air is a national Registered Charity founded in 1986 that helps
Canadians in financial need fly to necessary medical treatment. Its vision is
to ensure that no Canadian is denied medical care for inability to afford air
travel. To achieve its mission, Hope Air arranges free flights to recognized
health facilities for medical treatment unavailable in a patient's home
community.