WestJet Airlines (WS) is a Canadian carrier headquartered out of Calgary, Alberta, and is the country’s second largest operator. It is one of North America’s newest full service airlines having adopted such a model in 2018, over 20 years after its founding in 1996. WS averages over 750 flights daily and connects flyers to over 100 destinations worldwide from its bases in Calgary and Toronto.
The airline’s core company, WestJet Group, was founded by Clive Beddoe and David Neeleman before it was acquired in 2019 by Canadian equity firm Onex Corporation. The estimated takeover amounted to approximately CA$5 billion and was an important landmark in transitioning the carrier from a low-cost operator to a full-service player in the industry.
Currently, over 1,800 pilots propel the airline’s consistent growth and here is a comprehensive look at how much they earn, as well as the other benefits they are entitled to.
Photo: WestJetWestJet Pilot Salary in 2025
WestJet First Officer Salary
Calgary-based carrier, WestJet first officers are some of the airline’s more inexperienced crop of pilots and act as the understudy to the captain. They are responsible for handling vital communication with air traffic control, carrying out safety checks on the aircraft before and after flights, as well as assisting with decision-making during emergency situations, navigation, etc.
WestJet first officers are paid a salary ranging from CA$78,000 per year to CA$188,000 per year (approx. US$54,000 and US$131,000). The amount is calculated on the basis of 77.5 flying hours each month, while the total payout is dependent on factors such as the type of aircraft flown, overtime hours during a calendar month and overall experience as a pilot.
Apart from their basic salary, WestJet’s first officers also enjoy deadhead and layover allowances, the rate of which is determined depending on their destination and duration of stopover.
Photo: WestJetWestJet Captain Salary
WestJet captains are the carrier’s most experienced pilots and as with most global carriers, they lead the entire crew during a flight and are responsible for safely flying from the origin to the destination. They also make important emergency decisions as well as those on navigation during the flight, while some senior captains could be tasked with mentoring experience first officers prior to their promotion to captaincy roles.
The commanders at WestJet earn a salary in the range of CA$190,000 and CA$310,000 annually (approx. US$132,000 and US$215,000). They are also compensated with a minimum guarantee of 77.5 flying hours in a month, with the overall compensation, as in the case of first officers, depending on their overall experience, seniority and type of aircraft the captains fly.
They are also provided layover deadhead and layover allowances with the amount calculated on the basis of destination and total duration of turnover.
Photo: WestJetBenefits Enjoyed by WestJet pilots
WestJet offers its pilots the following benefits in addition to their basic salary.
- INSURANCE AND WELLNESS POLICIES – All pilots at WestJet are entitled to globally valid, comprehensive insurance policies that mitigate the risk of unforeseen expenditure while on the travels. Additionally, they also have wellness programs for the employees to use free of charge in order to be mentally fit for duty.
- FLEXIBLE SHIFTS – WestJet pilots are offered very flexible shifts. Initially, they can request specific days off or layovers at preferred destinations on certain dates, whereas once the rosters have been confirmed, they are allowed to swap flights with other pilots in the airline, thereby having a good social and work-life balance.
- INTERNAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES – Internal growth opportunities are abundant due to the carrier’s ongoing growth. Pilots need not complete repetitive formalities to pursue more within the WestJet group as the airline offers promotions and fleet upgrades based on seniority, hence leading to a good retention rate.
- STAFF TRAVEL – All pilots at WestJet enjoy standby travel benefits with the airline, while discounted tickets can be booked at their own cost in advance. There are also jump-seat arrangements with partners. Likewise, there are also discounts on car rental and hotel brands that the carrier already has corporate relationships with.
- SAVINGS PLAN – WestJet encourages savings plans by allowing employees to contribute up to 20% of their salaries into a savings pool after six months of employment. The carrier also matches this amount, while there is also a profit sharing plans, where employees are entitled to receive bonus payments twice a year, in May and in November.
Photo: By Ken Fielding/https://www.flickr.com/photos/kenfielding, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72761268What aircraft do WestJet pilots fly?
WestJet operates a fleet of narrow and wide-body airliners manufactured by Boeing. Here is a look at the existing planes pilots fly.
- Boeing 737-700 – 38
- Boeing 737-800 – 46
- Boeing 737 MAX 8 – 43
- Boeing 787-9 – 7
The carrier also has the following aircraft on order.
- Boeing 737-800 – 8
- Boeing 737 MAX 8 – 29
- Boeing 737 MAX 10 – 46
Photo: WestJetHow to become a pilot at WestJet?
WestJet Airlines requires its pilots (first officers) to fulfil the following minimum requirements.
- 2000 hours total flight time
- Legally entitled to work in Canada
- Transport Canada Airline Transport Pilot’s license (ATPL)
- Valid Transport Canada instrument rating
- Valid Transport Canada Category 1 medical certificate
- Oral and written proficiency in English
- Valid Canadian passport
If an individual is not a Canadian passport holder, they are required to provide additional legal documentation, such as.
- A valid Canadian Permanent Resident Card
- All individual visas necessary to operate within WestJet’s network
- Ability to obtain a Canadian Air Transportation Security Authority (CATSA) Restricted Area Identity card (RAIC). RAIC may be obtained during initial training, but must be valid no later than the completion of Initial Ground School
- Ability to operate into the United States
Photo: By Quintin Soloviev – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=110510525WestJet Pilot FAQs
WestJet pilots earn between CA$78,000 and CA$310,000 per year depending on their seniority within the carrier, type of aircraft flown, flying hours and overall experience.
WestJet pilots need to be based in one of five operational bases the airline flies out of – Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Vancouver or Winnipeg.
WestJet pilots fly Boeing airplanes. The airline’s narrow-body fleet is dominated by the Boeing 737 family, while they also have 9 Boeing 787-9s to aid long-haul operations.
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