WestJet reversing move to install tight seating layout

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/westjet-reversing-move-to-install-tight-seating-layout-9.7048610

75 points · 17 comments · view on lemmy.world

17 Comments

HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works · 45 pts · 249d (4 replies)

Up until 2019 Westjet was employee-owned.

Now ...

WestJet Airlines Ltd. is operated by WestJet Group, a private company, incorporated and domiciled in Canada, which since December 2019 has been owned by Toronto-based private equity firm Onex Corporation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WestJet

PE once again proving it is shit.

avidamoeba@lemmy.ca · 10 pts · 249d (3 replies)

Up until 2019 Westjet was employee-owned.

Do you know the story of how the sale happened?

HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works · 38 pts · 249d (2 replies)

From 2 different sources

Shareholders of WestJet Airlines on Tuesday voted in favor of its deal to be acquired by billionaire Gerry Schwartz's private equity firm Onex Corp for C$3.5 billion.

More than 92.5% of the votes cast at the special meeting were in favor of the proposed deal, the company said in a statement.

The C$31 per share deal, announced in May, received a green light from Canada's transport minister last month.

WestJet has reported a decline in net profit for each of the last three years, hurt by rising fuel costs, pressure on ticket prices and other problems.

https://www.reuters.com/article/business/westjet-shareholders-approve-private-equity-buyout-idUSKCN1UI2UA/

On May 13, 2019, WestJet announced that it had accepted an offer from Onex Corporation to purchase the company, a $5-billion deal that would require shareholder approval (in July) and regulatory approval. The offer was for $31 a share, substantially higher than the closing price of approximately $18 at the close of trading on the previous business day.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WestJet

Seems they were losing money and the offer was too good to pass up.

avidamoeba@lemmy.ca · 10 pts · 249d (1 reply)

Thank you for the work!

HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works · 9 pts · 249d

You're welcome. :)

slothrop@lemmy.ca · 19 pts · 249d (1 reply)

They'll never be able to calculate how much they lost immediately and the future losses due to this stupidity.
$Millions, if not tens of....

panda_abyss@lemmy.ca · 13 pts · 249d

They’ll never bother trying. 

They will write to the government asking for handouts though, and blame the trade war or some shit. 

NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 249d

Not that I'd recommend flying with them again anyway, but don't fly with them until 2027 at the earliest or risk suffering

The overhaul will likely be completed by year's end, he said.

sik0fewl@piefed.ca · 10 pts · 249d (2 replies)

It is brutal. I'm not even 5'10" and my knees were pressed into the seat in front of me. I felt sorry for the guy across the aisle that was at least 6'.

Anything for a buck. I'm surprised they're actually reversing it.

Akuchimoya@startrek.website · 3 pts · 248d

WestJet only reversing it because word started to get around and people were swearing never to fly WestJet again. If there were no possible alternatives for flyers, they would not have cared.

BCsven@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 248d

Also seems like a safety issue. In a crash, a shift of your seat back slightly forward, plus your own body moving is going to crush your femurs. I would think you at least need a few inches of air buffer. Not to mention fast exiting hindered by not having space to move properly

nbailey@lemmy.ca · 9 pts · 249d (1 reply)

Complaining works, folks!!

HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 249d

Social media complaining does.

FelixMortane@lemmy.ca · 7 pts · 249d

Too little too late, already switching off their services

ikidd@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 249d

So from the edge of my back to the tip of my knee is 27 inches. Take 4" for the thickness of the seat and I'm already 2" in the hole at a 29" pitch. these airlines can go fuck themselves, I'm to the point where I am uncomfortable enough to need to take painkillers for a 2 hour flight.

BC_viper@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 248d

Hah. Too late, will never fly with them again.

melsaskca@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 248d

Reminds me of how they used railway cars back in WWII Germany. DVALJ.