BA WestJet Q400

Canada-based low-cost carrier WestJet Airlines has taken the delivery of the first of 20 Bombardier Q400 NextGen airliners.

The carrier also holds options for 25 additional Q400 NextGen aircraft.

WestJet had placed a conditional order with Bombardier for up to 45 Q400 NextGen aircraft in June 2012.

The new jetliner will be operated by the new regional carrier, WestJet Encore and will serve multiple destinations, beginning in Western Canada in its first year of service.

WestJet Encore president Ferio Pugliese said: "With an unmatched balance of speed, comfort, cost efficiencies and highly regarded environmental qualities, the Q400 NextGen aircraft will also allow us to operate more efficiently as we enhance service on more routes."

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft president Mike Arcamone said that the aircraft was efficient on short-haul missions or can use its speed to reach regional destinations farther afield, making it competitive with jets on longer sectors, which is a perfect fit for WestJet.

Built at Bombardier’s facility in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the Q400 NextGen turboprop is a successor to Bombardier’s Dash 8/Q-Series family of aircraft.

Designed for short-haul routes, the new aircraft configuration can accommodate 70 to 80 passengers, and is claimed to balance passenger comfort and operating economics with a reduced environmental impact.

"The Q400 NextGen aircraft will also allow us to operate more efficiently as we enhance service on more routes."

Features of the Q400 aircraft include an enhanced cabin environment with LED lighting, new ceiling panels, dished window sidewalls and larger overhead luggage bins.

In addition, the integration of active noise and vibration suppression (ANVS) system is claimed to offer enhanced cabin experience for passengers.

WestJet, which began operations in 1996, operates more than 103 aircraft and serves 86 destinations in North and Central America and the Caribbean.

To date, Bombardier has logged 468 firm orders for Q400 and Q400 NextGen aircraft and the delivered aircraft are in service with around 50 operators in more than 30 countries on five continents.

Image: Officials of Bombardier and WestJet during the delivery of WestJet’s first Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft. Photo: courtesy of Bombardier.

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