WestJet has a radical plan to get you on its planes

Out in western Canada, the airline world is about to watch a unique business experiment. If it goes as planned, in a few years there will be a new favourite carrier battling for your airfare dollars, regardless of whether you’re a penny pincher or a rich banker. WestJet, which flies Boeing 737s in Canada much the same way Southwest Airlines does in the US, is embarking on a radical shift to become a global-network airline, replete with fancy foods, plush beds up front and 9 new, spiffier airport lounges and many more top-dollar business customers. Simultaneously, it’s launching an ultra-low-cost airline called Swoop to pursue those with the smallest budgets. This “high-end, low-end” strategy comes as airlines the world over struggle to combat the grand ambitions of lower-cost rivals. <br/>