WestJet is a major Canadian airline founded in 1996 and headquartered in Calgary, Alberta. It began as a low-cost carrier serving western Canada and has since grown into one of the country's two dominant airlines, competing directly with Air Canada on domestic and international routes. The airline operates scheduled passenger service to destinations across Canada, the United States, the Caribbean, Europe, and beyond. WestJet launched its ultra-low-cost subsidiary Swoop in 2018 and has pursued a hybrid network carrier model in recent years. WestJet was acquired by Onex Corporation in a privatization deal completed in 2019, ending its run as a publicly traded company. Despite challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic and significant labor disruptions, WestJet remains a key player in Canadian aviation.