WestJet goes global

Article Excerpt

WESTJET $26.85 (Toronto symbol WJA; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (1-877-493- 7853; www.westjet.com; Shares outstanding: 127.8 million; Market cap: $3.4 billion; Dividend yield: 1.8%) now plans to operate its own wide-body, twoaisle aircraft, starting in 2015. The planes will offer greater range than its current fleet of Boeing 737s and let it compete with Air Canada on international routes. WestJet aims to start with four wide-body planes, with the first flights going between Alberta and Hawaii during the winter season, beginning in late 2015. Right now, it is using two Boeing 757-200s operated by Thomas Cook for its Alberta-to-Hawaii winter service. Two of the wide-body aircraft may then be put on transatlantic routes for the summer 2016 season. WestJet is a buy. buy…