CALGARY - After considering a number of cities across Canada, WestJet has decided to locate the headquarters of its new regional airline in Calgary.

Wednesday’s announcement means that Encore, the newly named regional airline expected to begin flying in the last half of 2013, will be based in the same city as its parent company. WestJet spokesperson Jennifer Sanford said airports in both Eastern and Western Canada were considered, but in the end, the company chose to remain true to its roots.

“Calgary has been our base since we began operations in 1996,” Sanford said. “Since we’re looking to replicate WestJet’s success with WestJet Encore, the decision to base the regional airline in Calgary feels right operationally and for WestJetters.”

WestJet and the Calgary Airport Authority will now begin a joint study to determine the exact location of what is expected to be a 40,000 square foot maintenance facility and office space. A construction time frame has not yet been determined.

Garth Atkinson, president and CEO of the Calgary Airport Authority, said WestJet’s decision is great news for the airport, but also for the city as a whole.

“Last measured, there were 24,000 people who work out of the Calgary International Airport and a value-added GDP impact of around $6 billion,” Atkinson said. “The addition of the WestJet Encore head office and maintenance facility will greatly enhance the vitality of YYC as a major Canadian hub airport.”

WestJet’s decision was also hailed Wednesday by Calgary Economic Development president and CEO Bruce Graham.

“WestJet has options as to where they could have done this and they have a strong desire to extend their footprint across Canada. So I’m very pleased they have chosen to make this announcement here for Calgary,” Graham said.

Graham said WestJet and Calgary have long been linked in the public’s eye, so the decision to locate Encore here is symbolic. More than that, however, Graham said it reinforces Calgary’s position as a centre for business and transportation.

“Increasingly, we’re seeing international destinations being added to the Calgary airport. And by adding the regional service as part of the mix of opportunities for flyers coming into Calgary will reinforce that hub experience and value,” he said.

Graham said the decision also speaks to Calgary’s growing reputation as a corporate capital.

“We’ve seen 55 per cent growth in head office activity over the last 10 years,” he said. “(As a headquarter destination), we’re growing faster than any other destination. This decision reinforces that.”

Mayor Naheed Nenshi took to Twitter after WestJet made its news public, tweeting, “Thrilled to hear that @westjet has chosen Calgary as the headquarters of Encore! We are so proud of this great company, born and raised here.”



WestJet announced in January that it was considering launching a regional airline to compete with Air Canada in smaller domestic markets. In June, the company unveiled the Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft it will be using for Encore. An order has been placed for 20 planes, which have a list value of $683 million US.



WestJet said its decision to base Encore’s headquarters in Calgary will have no bearing on which communities will be served by the new airline. Small and mid-sized cities across Canada have been lobbying hard to convince WestJet to include them in the new service, but the company will not announce Encore’s first list of destinations until early 2013.



WestJet Encore is expected to launch first with just a handful of destinations and then expand coast-to-coast. Sanford said at full maturity, the regional airline has the capability to create potentially 1,800 new jobs. These positions would be spread across Canada — Sanford said it’s too early to say exactly how many jobs would be located at the new Calgary headquarters.



astephenson@calgaryherald.com