WestJet Pilot Recruitment 2026
Hiring status, requirements, selection steps and the path to the seat. Requirements checked against WestJet's official careers pages on .
Is WestJet hiring pilots in 2026?
Not right now. WestJet has paused pilot recruitment, according to its official careers pages as of October 3, 2026. WestJet Encore First Officer: 750 hours. Dash 8-400 (Q400), based in Calgary, with a Pilot-in-Command Under Supervision (PIC U/S) programme. The selection process has 2 steps, set out step by step below.
- WestJet pilot careers — hour gates, fleets, bases, Encore route
- WestJet pilot job board — no open pilot jobs on 3 Oct 2026
WestJet screens with an aptitude battery before a human reads your application.
Sit a timed practice paper free — no account. Scored on pace as well as accuracy, because pace is what the real battery culls on.
Where are you with WestJet?
Selection runs on its own timetable, and what helps depends entirely on where you are in it. Tell us, and what we send you matches that — nothing else.
| Hiring status | Paused |
|---|---|
| Country / Region | Canada · North America |
| Bases | 6 bases · YYC, YEG, YVR, YWG, YYZ +1 more |
| Fleet types | B737-700/800, B737-8 MAX, B787-9, Dash 8-400 (WestJet Encore) |
| Contract type | Permanent employment |
| Type ratings accepted | B737, B787, Q400 |
| Assessment stages | 1 stages · 2-step pipeline |
WestJet pilot requirements
As published on WestJet's official careers pages, checked October 3, 2026.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| WestJet Encore First Officer | 750 hours. Dash 8-400 (Q400), based in Calgary, with a Pilot-in-Command Under Supervision (PIC U/S) programme |
| WestJet Encore Direct Entry Captain | 2,000 hours |
| WestJet First Officer (mainline) | 2,000 hours. Boeing 737-700, 737-800, 737-8 MAX and 787-9 |
| Certificates | Transport Canada licence appropriate to the role |
What the job pays
Estimate — not yet verified against the pilot contract. Full WestJet pay table, by year and aircraft
The full table with every figure is on the WestJet salary page.
From student pilot to WestJet Captain
Shown for the EASA system most non-US airlines recruit from; other authorities are similar. Hour figures are regulatory minimums, time ranges are typical.
Step 1
Class 1 medical + theory
First month EASA Part-MED / Part-FCLBook the Class 1 medical before paying any school. Then ATPL theory: 13 subjects under the EASA syllabus (other authorities differ).
Try free private-pilot theory questions (FAA format)Step 2
CPL / IR / multi-engine training
≈ 200 h (EASA integrated minimum 195 h) 18–24 months integrated EASA FCL Appendix 3Integrated course in one go, or modular (PPL first, then hour building, CPL, IR). Ends with multi-crew (MCC/APS) training.
Step 3
Type rating (A320 / 737)
Simulator + base training 2–3 monthsPaid by the airline in some cadet or direct-entry schemes, self-funded in others — check the specific vacancy.
Step 4
WestJet First Officer
See the requirements aboveLow-hour pilots usually join with a frozen ATPL.
Step 5
Full ATPL (unfrozen)
1,500 h incl. 500 h multi-pilot 3–4 years of line flying EASA FCL.510.AThe licence you need to be pilot-in-command of a multi-pilot airliner.
Step 6
WestJet Captain
Command course Depends on seniority and growthUpgrade criteria (hours, time in seat, assessment) are set by each airline.
How to Apply: WestJet Pilot Application Process
The WestJet pilot selection process step by step, as the airline describes it (checked October 3, 2026). Where the airline does not publish a stage, we say so.
- 1
Check the pilot board
When a posting opensWestJet's pilot job board showed no open pilot jobs on 3 Oct 2026. Postings appear on the WestJet Group Dayforce board linked from westjet.com/careers/pilot.
- 2
Apply to the posting
Per postingApply to the WestJet or WestJet Encore role that matches your hours. WestJet does not describe its assessment stages publicly.
Assessment Stages: What WestJet Tests
1. Selection
WestJet does not publish its assessment stages; the posting explains them when a role opens.
Preparation Tips
- Have logbook totals by aircraft type ready
- Prepare for behavioural and technical questions as at other airlines
WestJet Pilot Interview Questions
Typical questions in airline pilot panel and HR interviews, including at WestJet. Prepare STAR-format answers (Situation, Task, Action, Result) and 8-10 real aviation stories.
- Q1
Why WestJet?
- Q2
Describe a situation where you made a critical decision under time pressure.
- Q3
Why do you want to fly for this airline specifically?
- Q4
Tell me about a time you went above and beyond for safety.
- Q5
How do you handle fatigue management during long duty periods?
Fleet You Could Fly at WestJet
4 aircraft types currently operated
Type ratings accepted at application
Holding one of these ratings can accelerate the hiring pipeline.
WestJet Pilot Bases (6)
Available pilot bases — bid by seniority
Insider Tips for WestJet Applicants
WestJet Encore at 750 hours is one of the lowest published entry gates for a Canadian airline
Fleet moves and upgrades inside the WestJet Group follow seniority
No open pilot posting on 3 Oct 2026: check the Dayforce board regularly
Knowing the WestJet process is step one. Being ready for the stages that actually cut people is step two.
Before a human reads your application there is an aptitude battery, and candidates consistently report it as the heaviest cull — pace, not difficulty. You can practise it here for free: timed papers generated fresh each run, plus a divided-attention drill that measures how much your performance degrades under load.
Already past the paperwork and preparing for the panel? , scored against the answers a panel is listening for. Seven days of access, no subscription.
No WestJet pack yet — want it built?
We will not pretend to have one. We build the next pack for the airline that gets asked for most, so leaving your address here is a vote. No sequence, one email when it ships.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WestJet hiring pilots in 2026?
What are the minimum requirements to fly for WestJet?
What is the WestJet pilot selection process?
What aircraft does WestJet fly?
Where are WestJet pilot bases?
Related Pilot Career Resources
Airline Pilot Interview Guide
200+ questions
HR scenarios, sim assessment drills, and the question banks used at every major airline.
All Airline Recruitment Guides
Hub: 55 airlines
Compare hiring status, requirements, and bases across every major airline.
Pilot Jobs by State
US directory
Find airline pilot jobs in all 50 US states — airlines, airports, and top employers.