2009-10-22

WestJet To Block Out Middle Seats on New Canada-Hawaii Routes

More articles by »
Written by: Phil Derner Jr.
Tags: , , , , , ,

In a move that bothoffers added comfort to passengers at a premium while extending the range of their 737s, WestJet Airlines will leave the middle seats empty in the first 8-10 rows on certain flights.

(Photo by Matthew Smith)

(Photo by Matthew Smith)

The trial will take place on their new Calgary-Maui and Edmonton-Honolulu routes set to begin in early March, when passengers will be able to “upgrade” to this area and not have to worry about bumping elbows or armrest-gut-spillage from their neighbor for as little as $20 extra.

Cutting out the middle man also reduces aircraft weight, which is the only way WestJet’s 136-seat Boeing 737-700 aircraft will have the range for these routes. These over-water operations would more commonly be reserved for larger aircraft types. Air Canada, for example, will use a 767-300 when they begin their own Calgary-Hawaii service in December.

These new routes will only run for two months from the first week of March until May 1st, at which point WestJet transitions to a summer schedule.

In addition to having more room for yourself, not having a middle seat means that creepy guys can film your feet and post it on YouTube for internet perverts to enjoy….(VIDEO)



About the Author

Phil Derner Jr.
Phil Derner founded NYCAviation in 2003. A lifetime aviation enthusiast that grew up across the water from La Guardia Airport, Phil has aviation experience as a Loadmaster, Operations Controller and Flight Dispatcher. He owns and operates NYCAviation and performs duties as an aviation expert through writing, consulting, public speaking and media appearances. You can reach him by email or follow him on Twitter.




 
 

 

Southwest Airlines Announces Entry into the Hawaiian Market

Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly announced on Wednesday evening, the airline’s intention to apply for ETOPS certification of their Boeing 737-800 for service to Hawaii. Kelly said “A day long-awaited by our customers, ...
by Douglas Wint
0

 
 

Friday Photos: A Tribute to St. Maarten and St. Barthelemy

In the wake of the incredible devastation experienced by several islands in the Caribbean this week including St. Maarten and St. Barthelemy, we take a look back at some photos from both Princess Juliana International Airport a...
by Ben Granucci
0

 

 

Was WestJet’s “Scary” Approach Really As Bad As It Seemed?

Over the past week, images and video of a Westjet 737 making a "scary" approach have been making the rounds. We examine what went right in that situation.
by David J. Williams
9

 
 

CLOSED: Winter Storm Stella Takes Aim at Northeastern US and Eastern Canada

Winter Storm Stella is taking aim at the Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada early this week. We'll have your latest updates on the storm and its impact on air travel here.
by NYCAviation Staff
0

 
 

The Reality Behind the “Hawaii Near Collision”

Recently, a passenger's account of a near collision between his flight and another near Hawaii has received a lot of attention. However, all was not as he made it seem. We separate the facts from the fiction and explain why thi...
by Ben Granucci
3