Air Canada and WestJet are Canada's two largest airlines, and they compete on most major domestic routes as well as many flights to the US, Mexico and the Caribbean. Air Canada is the flag carrier and a Star Alliance member. WestJet is the number two airline, with its largest hub in Calgary, and the main airline of Western Canada.
Quick verdict
Air Canada is the better fit for travellers who want a global network, Star Alliance connections and Aeroplan, particularly for long-haul trips. WestJet suits travellers flying from Western Canada, especially via Calgary, and those who want a hybrid product. On cheap fares, compare the baggage rules line by line, because Air Canada's lowest fares now exclude a carry-on bag and charge for checked bags, and WestJet's allowances also depend on the fare.
Choose Air Canada if…
- You want a Star Alliance carrier and to earn or spend Aeroplan points.
- You are flying long-haul or connecting onward internationally from a Canadian airport.
- Punctuality matters: it ranked first among 10 major US and Canadian airlines in Cirium's May 2025 monthly ranking.
Choose WestJet if…
- You live in or are travelling through Western Canada, where Calgary is its largest hub.
- You prefer a Canadian carrier with a mainline fleet of Boeing 737s plus a small 787-9 fleet for longer routes.
- You want a regional-airline option: WestJet Encore flies 35 Q400 turboprops on shorter routes.
At a glance
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Key differences
Network and hubs
Air Canada serves domestic, transborder and international destinations from Canadian airports, and its Star Alliance membership extends that reach through partner airlines. WestJet's largest hub is Calgary (YYC), and it is the primary airline for Western Canada, per Simple Flying. For Western Canada point-to-point trips WestJet is often the natural choice. For worldwide connections, Air Canada has the wider alliance support.
Fleet and size
WestJet had 194 aircraft in May 2026: 159 mainline Boeing jets (737-700, 737-800, 737 MAX 8 and seven 787-9s) plus 35 Encore Q400s, with a mainline average age of 11.0 years. Air Canada operates a mainline fleet and the leisure-oriented Air Canada Rouge. WestJet is Canada's second-largest airline, carrying about 22.6 million passengers in 2025 (Simple Flying).
Baggage and fares
Air Canada's Economy Basic tickets bought after 3 January 2025 for Canada, US, Mexico, Central America and Caribbean routes exclude a carry-on bag; only a personal item is allowed. For tickets bought from 13 April 2026, the first checked bag costs CA$45 before tax and the second CA$60, per Prince of Travel. International fees were unchanged. WestJet's allowances also depend on the fare bought, so check its current rules before you book.
Reliability
Air Canada ranked first among 10 major US and Canadian airlines for on-time performance in a monthly Cirium ranking for May 2025 (PAX News), after years near the bottom. A single month does not set a pattern, and results vary. Check recent on-time figures for your specific route and season rather than relying on one ranking.
Loyalty and alliances
Air Canada is a Star Alliance member and runs the Aeroplan programme, which can be used across partner airlines. In August 2026 it announced a CA$2.5 billion minority investment in Aeroplan, according to Investing.com. WestJet's alliance membership and partner options should be checked on its website, so its points are best suited to travellers who fly the airline regularly.
Frequently asked questions
Is Air Canada better than WestJet?
Air Canada suits travellers who value a wider network, Star Alliance and Aeroplan. WestJet suits those flying from Western Canada via Calgary. The better choice depends on your route and fare.
Does Air Canada include a checked bag?
Not always. On Economy Basic fares within Canada and to the US, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, the first checked bag costs CA$45 before tax for tickets bought from 13 April 2026. Basic fares bought after 3 January 2025 also exclude a carry-on bag.
Which is bigger, Air Canada or WestJet?
Air Canada is Canada's largest airline by fleet and passengers carried. WestJet is the second largest, with 194 aircraft including Encore as of May 2026.
About Air Canada Read more
Overview
Air Canada is the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada by fleet size and passengers carried. It was founded in 1937 as Trans-Canada Air Lines and is headquartered in the borough of Saint-Laurent, Montreal, Quebec. It is a member of Star Alliance. The airline remains in operation: it reported its second-quarter 2026 results in August 2026, alongside a announced CA$2.5 billion minority investment in its Aeroplan loyalty programme, according to Investing.com.
Network and hubs
Air Canada serves domestic, transborder (US) and international destinations from Canadian airports. Its full destination list is on Wikipedia. Hub details were not verified for this profile; check the airline's website for current route maps.
Fleet
The airline operates a mainline fleet and a leisure-oriented Air Canada Rouge fleet. The current number of aircraft is listed in the tables of the Q2 2026 management discussion and analysis. We could not confirm an exact total, so none is stated here. Some websites quote figures near 1,000 aircraft, which appear unreliable.
On board
Cabin layouts, seat pitch, meals, entertainment and Wi-Fi vary by aircraft type and route. These were not verified for this profile; check the airline's website for the aircraft on your flight.
Good to know
- Carry-on: Economy Basic tickets bought after 3 January 2025 for travel within Canada, to and from the US, and to and from Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean exclude a carry-on bag. A personal item is allowed.
- Checked bags: for tickets bought from 13 April 2026, the first checked bag costs CA$45 before tax, with a second bag at CA$60 on Economy Basic, Standard and Flex fares, per Prince of Travel. International fees were unchanged.
- Punctuality: Air Canada ranked first for on-time performance among 10 major US and Canadian airlines in a Cirium monthly ranking, after years near the bottom. Results vary month to month.
- Loyalty: the airline's programme is Aeroplan.
Fees and rules change often, so check the airline's official pages before booking.
About WestJet Read more
Overview
WestJet is a Canadian airline that began flying in 1996 with three Boeing 737-200s. According to Simple Flying, it is Canada's second-largest airline and carried around 22.6 million passengers on more than 215,000 flights in 2025. Alliance membership, ownership details and other corporate facts have not been verified for this profile; check the airline's official website for current information.
Network and hubs
Its largest hub is Calgary International Airport (YYC). As its name suggests, it serves as the primary airline for Western Canada, according to the same source. Detailed route information has not been verified here.
Fleet
As of May 2026, WestJet's mainline fleet numbered 159 aircraft, all Boeing: 35 Boeing 737-700s, 54 737-800s, 63 737 MAX 8s and 7 Boeing 787-9s. The average age of the mainline fleet was 11.0 years. The regional subsidiary WestJet Encore operates 35 De Havilland Q400s, which brings the combined fleet to 194 aircraft (Simple Flying, 2026). Fleet numbers change as aircraft are delivered and retired.
On board
Cabin layouts, seat pitch, meals, entertainment and Wi-Fi vary by aircraft type and fare. They were not confirmed from sources for this profile, so travellers should check the airline's official cabin pages before booking.
Good to know
- Baggage allowances, change fees and lounge access depend on the fare bought. Check the current rules on the WestJet website before travelling.
- No published on-time performance figure has been verified for this profile.
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