WestJet Airlines Logo PNG
The WestJet logo is confident and purposeful. The paper airplane distinctly follows its target, and the large airliners are so technically advanced that they glide effortlessly through the sky. The emblem’s elements reflect the calm, measured pace and vast expanses of the Canadian sky.
WestJet Airlines: Brand overview
WestJet Airlines took flight in 1994, crafted by Clive Beddoe, David Neeleman, Mark Hill, Tim Morgan, and Donald Bell in Calgary, Alberta. Their mission was to establish a budget airline modeled after Southwest Airlines.
Launching operations on February 29, 1996, the inaugural journey linked Calgary to Vancouver. Initially, the company catered to just five Western Canadian cities with a modest fleet of three Boeing 737-200 planes.
Experiencing rapid growth in its formative years, the airline expanded its route map across Western Canada. By 1999, the brand ventured eastward, launching services to Hamilton and Ottawa.
2000, the airline marked a milestone by going public on the Toronto Stock Exchange and securing capital for further growth.
By 2002, the airliner embarked on a fleet upgrade, placing an order for Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft. This move enhanced operational efficiency and expanded flight destinations.
Entering the international arena in 2004, the company commenced flights to the United States, including Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Florida routes.
In 2005, the aviation firm introduced WestJet Rewards, a loyalty program, a unique move for a budget carrier.
The year 2006 saw the introduction of LiveTV in-flight entertainment, elevating the passenger experience.
Despite the global economic downturn in 2009, the airline continued to grow, adding new international routes to the Caribbean.
2013 was a pivotal year, as it witnessed the launch of WestJet Encore, a regional subsidiary that uses Bombardier Q400 turboprops to connect smaller communities.
2015, the aviation company embarked on transatlantic flights, linking Halifax to Dublin with Boeing 737 aircraft.
The company placed an order for Boeing 787 Dreamliners in 2016, signaling its entry into the long-haul market.
Announcing the creation of its ultra-low-cost subsidiary, Swoop, in 2017, the aviation operator began Swoop operations in 2018.
The arrival of the first Boeing 787 Dreamliner in 2018 enabled the airline to offer long-haul services to Europe.
A transformative year, 2019 saw the airliner’s acquisition by Onex Corporation for CAD 5 billion, transitioning it to private ownership.
By 2020, the air carrier had evolved into a major Canadian carrier, operating over 100 destinations across North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and Europe.
Meaning and History
What is WestJet Airlines?
This Canadian airline based in Calgary is known for its unique corporate culture and innovative approach to passenger service. The company operates a diverse fleet, including narrow-body Boeing 737s and wide-body Boeing 787 Dreamliners, allowing it to serve domestic and long-haul international routes. It is known for its WestJet Cares for Kids program, which supports charitable organizations helping children.
1996 – 2016
Founded in 1996, WestJet quickly established itself as a powerful and rapidly growing force in the Canadian aviation market, reminiscent of a swift comet slicing through space. This image of purposefulness and dynamism is reflected in the company’s logo, where a cubic symbol positioned to the right of the name symbolizes stability and an innovative approach.
The logo’s geometric structure, which includes squares and triangles, emphasizes WestJet’s technical excellence and reliability. It reminds us of the balance and precision essential in the aviation industry. The clarity of lines and shapes underscores a systematic approach to ensuring the safety and comfort of flights.
The logo’s color palette is carefully chosen to reflect Canada’s natural beauty. Green represents the vast forests, blue symbolizes the majestic sea, and white denotes the snowy peaks characteristic of the Canadian landscape. These colors create a beautiful and harmonious visual impression and remind us of the company’s commitment to its homeland and the nature over which it flies.
WestJet’s operations are closely linked to Canada’s West Coast, reflected in the brand name. WestJet has become a symbol of reliable and comfortable flights for residents and visitors of the West Coast, strengthening the connection between its various parts and providing access to its unique natural and cultural treasures.
2016 – 2018
When the airline’s operations began expanding beyond Canada, it was decided to update its emblem, incorporating elements reflecting the country’s national identity internationally. In this context, the cubic symbol in the logo was replaced with an image of a maple leaf rendered in Persian green shades. This symbol reflects Canada’s natural beauty and is deeply rooted in the country’s history. The maple leaf, a well-known symbol of Canada, helps strengthen the brand’s connection to the national image.
Additionally, the logo depicts a paper airplane sliced through maple leaves, symbolically demonstrating the company’s expansion of service areas. This element emphasizes the dynamic growth and the carrier’s readiness to open new routes and connect Canada with various parts of the world.
The design of the company’s name uses a bold and slightly stretched font that highlights the carrier’s fundamental role and importance in the market, as well as its capability to cover vast territories. The color scheme of the name, incorporating blue and green, plays a significant role in conveying the cultural diversity of Canada. Blue is associated with the English-speaking part of the population, while green represents the French-speaking community. The color palette symbolizes unity and the company’s commitment to serving all country residents, highlighting Canada’s inclusivity and multicultural character.
2018 – today
In 2018, the company’s logo was updated to reflect the expansion of its service offerings and strengthen its market position. The changes affected stylistic elements as well as the overall perception of the brand. The font of the company name was modified: letters were stretched vertically, giving the logo a more expressive and refined appearance. This new letter design added an element of elegance and modernity to the overall image.
The choice of blue for the font was deliberate. Blue is traditionally associated with reliability, professionalism, and expertise. Using this color in the logo emphasizes the company’s commitment to providing high-quality services and earning the trust of its clients. Blue helps create a sense of calm and security, which is crucial in the aviation industry.
Additionally, the sizes of the maple leaf and paper airplane images on the logo were increased to better match the new format of the name. This adjustment achieved a more harmonious and balanced visual perception of the logo. Enlarging these elements symbolizes the company’s growth and expansion, highlighting its ambitions and commitment to leadership in providing aviation services internationally.
