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Former American Eagle executive to join airline in January 2014

CALGARY, Dec. 10, 2013 /CNW/ - WestJet today announced the appointment of Fred Cleveland to the position of Executive Vice-President, Operations, effective January 6, 2014.

Fred Cleveland joins WestJet from American Eagle Airlines, where he has been Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice-President of Technical Operations since December 2009, responsible for the airlines' 1,700 daily flights to more than 150 cities across North America. Prior to his work with American Eagle, Fred was Vice-President of Base Maintenance for American Airlines from 2008 to 2009.

"We look forward to welcoming Fred to the WestJet team," commented Gregg Saretsky, WestJet President and CEO. "His extensive airline industry experience, coupled with his impressive military background, will be a strong asset for the airline as we continue to extend our network, grow our fleet and focus on the safe, efficient and on-time operation of our business."

"WestJet has garnered an international reputation as an outstanding airline," said Fred Cleveland. "Being asked to become a 'WestJetter' is an honour and I look forward to getting started in the New Year."

Prior to joining American, Cleveland served 28 years in the U.S. Navy in a number of assignments, and the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron Blue Angels, Fighter Weapons School Top Gun, and Executive Officer of the Naval Air Depot. In his last assignment, holding the rank of Captain, Fred served as the Commanding Officer for the Fleet Readiness Center Southwest, located in San Diego, California where, as CEO, he directed all phases of the Navy's largest airframe aviation industrial activity. He has served several sea deployments, including service board aircraft carriers during Operation Desert Storm.

Cleveland received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. He also holds a Master of Business Administration degree in Systems Management from the Naval Post Graduate School and is a Ph.D candidate at Oklahoma State University. He is certified by the Department of Defense in Manufacturing, Production and Quality. He is a Certified Professional Logistician by the Society of Logistical Engineers and holds a LEAN/Six Sigma Green Belt certification.

About WestJet
WestJet is Canada's most preferred airline, offering scheduled service to 88 destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe. Powered by an award-winning culture of care, WestJet pioneered low-cost flying in Canada. Recognized nationally as a top employer, WestJet now has more than 9,600 WestJetters across Canada. Operating a fleet of more than 100 Boeing Next-Generation 737 and Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft, WestJet strives to be one of the five most successful international airlines in the world. This year, WestJet launched its new regional airline, WestJet Encore.

About WestJet Vacations
WestJet Vacations provides guests with affordable, reliable and easy-to-book travel experiences to 55 destinations in 18 countries, including the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. Leveraging WestJet's fun and friendly image, extensive network and remarkable guest experience, WestJet Vacations offers guests a great flight schedule and a wide variety of hotel and resort options to create fun and affordable vacation experiences.  For more information visit www.westjetvacations.com.

About WestJet Rewards
WestJet Rewards members earn WestJet dollars on WestJet flights, vacation packages and more. WestJet dollars can be used like cash towards the purchase of WestJet flights and WestJet Vacations packages on any date to any WestJet or WestJet Encore destination with no blackout periods, even on seat sales. More flights equal more benefits, including bonus WestJet dollars and Jet-Aways. Guests who use their WestJet RBC MasterCard will earn WestJet dollars even faster.

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SOURCE WestJet

Image with caption: "Fred Cleveland, WestJet's new Executive Vice-President, Operations (CNW Group/WestJet)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131210_C9227_PHOTO_EN_34806.jpg