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Airline, tour operator get top scores in the 2013 Harris Poll Canada EquiTrend^® Study

CALGARY, April 16, 2014 /CNW/ - WestJet today announced that WestJet Airlines and WestJet Vacations received the highest equity scores among airline and vacation package supplier brands included in the 2013 Harris Poll Canada EquiTrend^® Study. This is the third consecutive year WestJet has received top marks and the second for WestJet Vacations in its category, introduced in 2012.

"Results like this are achieved by the tremendous efforts of our nearly 10,000 WestJetters and we are grateful for the smile and caring attitude they bring to work every day," said Bob Cummings, WestJet Executive Vice-President, Sales, Marketing and Guest Experience. "What our brand represents ̵̵̶ low fares and a remarkable guest experience ̵̶ has been our durable competitive advantage. This type of recognition confirms for us that as we evolve and grow as an airline, our approaches and, in particular, the way in which our WestJetters interact with guests, continue to resonate with Canadians."

The study is based on the opinions of 9,138 Canadian consumers aged 15 and over, surveyed online during November 2013, rating 417 brands. The Nielsen Consumer Insights (formerly known as Harris/Decima) equity score is a composite of three measures ̶ familiarity, perceptions of quality, and consideration ̶ which are the foundations of strong, profitable brands Canadians know and respect.

Nielsen is a leading global provider of information and insights into what consumers watch and buy and recently acquired Harris Interactive (known as Harris/Decima in Canada).

About WestJet
We are proud to be Canada's most-preferred airline, powered by an award-winning culture of care and recognized as one of the country's top employers.  We offer scheduled service to more than 85 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 120 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:
2014 Value Airline of the Year (Air Transport World magazine)
2013 Highest equity score: airline, vacation package supplier brands (Harris/Decima EquiTrend Study)
2013 Gold Stevie Award Best Transportation Company (American Business Awards)
2013 Chairman's Circle Award: WestJet Vacations (CPSC)
2013 Canada's Most Preferred Airline (Leger Marketing)
2013/2012 Canada's Most Attractive Employer (Randstad)
2013 WestJet RBC MasterCard ranked #1 in Canada (Money Sense magazine)

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SOURCE WestJet