From 3 used planes and 5 destinations to global player: the WestJet timeline

WestJet started with five destinations, 220 employees and three used planes.

Now, with its planned sale to private equity firm Onex announced, the Calgary-based airline has about 14,000 employees, more than 180 planes, and it flies to 114 destinations directly and about 130 more through connections with airline partners.

As news broke Monday that Toronto-based Onex wants to buy WestJet in an all-cash transaction of $3.5 billion (worth about $5 billion including debt), it was just the latest step in the airline's growth.

The airline started small and has steadily grown and grown and grown.Here's a look at some key milestones and speed bumps along the way:

1996

WestJet launches as a no-frills, discount carrier on Feb. 29, 1996, with flights to Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Kelowna and Winnipeg. It had three used planes and about 220 employees.

Notlong after, it was ordered to cease operations due to a dispute over maintenance records. It survived the grounding and was back in the air after 17 days.

Itadded more destinations in Western Canada in its first year.

1999

The airline goes public, with its stock issued at $10 a share.

2000

Expansion outside of its traditional Western Canada territory begins, with flights to the East and a new eastern hub in Hamilton.

2004

Flights to the United Statesbegin.

2006

The first destination outside of Canada and the United Statesis the Bahamas. The airline launches WestJetVacations to sell travel packages.

CBC Archives: WestJet begins flying, 1996

6 years ago

Duration 1:44

The air wars begin as WestJet begins flying later in the month. The story originally aired on February 5, 1996.

2013

Encore, the company's regional propeller-plane carrier, launches to serve smaller markets.

2014

The first WestJet transatlantic flight to Dublin.

2016

London, England, is added to the lineup of routes.

2017

WestJet's pilots vote to unionize andjoin the Air Line Pilots Association.

2018

WestJet starts flying to Paris, introduces business class and launches itsultra-low-cost carrier, Swoop.

Cabin crews vote to unionize, while pilots threaten to strike in the midst of contract negotiations.

2019

Onexoffers to buy WestJet for $5 billion, dependent on several factors, including shareholder approval. Stock shoots from $18.52 to $30 after announcement on May 13, 2019.

As of spring 2019, WestJetoperates 85 planes, according to Plane Spotters. It flies to 114destinationsin North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe (or a full 240 destinations, if connectivity with airline partners is included). Total employees number around 14,000.