News Releases
CALGARY, Jan. 10 /CNW/ - WestJet (TSX:WJA) today announced an agreement
with Travelport to suspend the current aiRES contract in order to negotiate an
amendment to this contract for the successful delivery of their aiRES
reservation system.
Sean Durfy, President of WestJet commented, "We have made the difficult
decision to suspend this implementation while we renegotiate the terms under
which we will deploy a future release of aiRES. Our guest experience is one of
the most important components of our business and we want to ensure we do not
compromise this vital element as we upgrade our current reservation system.
"Our business plan is, and will remain, on track and will be fully
supported by the added functionality of the upgraded version of the Open Skies
Reservation and Distribution System."
WestJet announced a support agreement with Navitaire on
December 22, 2006. This support agreement, effective through December, 2008,
will provide WestJet with a supported and upgraded version of its current Open
Skies reservation and distribution system.
WestJet has invested approximately $38 million in the development of
aiRES. WestJet and Travelport have agreed to enter into discussions to explore
an amendment to the existing agreement that would specify the terms under
which a future version of aiRES would be implemented. If WestJet and
Travelport can not come to an agreement by May 31, 2007, the parties will
enter into a dispute resolution process and there is the potential of a one
time write-off of $30 million.
Marking its eleventh year of service, WestJet is Canada's leading
low-fare airline offering scheduled service throughout its 35-city North
American and Caribbean network. Named Canada's most admired corporate culture
in 2006, WestJet pioneered low-cost high-value flying in Canada. With
increased legroom and leather seats on its modern fleet of 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.