WestJet Makes Craft Beer the Only Beer Onboard in North American Airline First

Craft beer has appeared on several North American airline menus for years, but most carriers have continued to stock products from the global brewing giants that dominate beer sales. That will change on July 15, 2026, when WestJet becomes the first major airline in North America to serve only craft beer, partnering with Calgary-based Tool Shed Brewing Company.

WestJet Group flights with beverages available for purchase will carry three Tool Shed selections. People Skills will serve as the airline’s standard ale, Golden Hour Hazy Pale will become its premium beer option, and Local Legend will fill the light lager category.

WestJet currently serves nearly 40 destinations across Canada, roughly 20 in the United States and another 20 countries internationally, but its roots remain firmly in Calgary, Alberta, where the airline was founded and where Calgary International Airport serves as its home base. Tool Shed Brewing also got its start in Calgary.

WestJet launched operations in 1996, while Tool Shed first began brewing in 2012. The airline started as a discount carrier before growing into a full-service airline, and Tool Shed followed its own growth path from a backyard homebrewing project to a brand marketed as “Canada Craft Brewery.” Because beer distribution is regulated at the provincial level, Tool Shed’s beers have not been sold nationwide, but the WestJet deal will expand their reach across the country.

Elevating The Guest Experience

Sam Taylor, chief experience officer of WestJet Group, said the move to an all-craft beer lineup is intended to enhance the guest experience. During the selection process, WestJet customers took part in blind tasting panels, and Tool Shed’s beers were chosen in all three categories the airline was seeking to fill.

“We did know where we would end up when we started this process,” Taylor said in a telephone interview. After a year-long evaluation involving numerous breweries, he said the tasting panels made clear that passengers were looking for better beer. “We knew our customers wanted quality and variety. We saw we needed to provide a premium product and variety,” Taylor said.

Taylor also noted that

Tool Shed Brewing is an award-winning brewery, having won medals at multiple editions of the Canada Beer Cup.

Tool Shed Brewery Takes Off

The five-year agreement to be WestJet’s exclusive beer supplier is a huge jump for Tool Shed. The craft beer business has notoriously thin margins and relies on volume for profitability. The agreement with WestJet could potentially triple Tool Shed’s production volume, according the Graham Sherman, president and found of Tool Shed.

“This is one of those few moments in life when you get to sit back and ask yourself, ‘Is this real life?’” said Sherman. “This started as a small backyard project and now our beer will be available across Canada and in 22 countries.”

WestJet said the Tool Shed’s connection to Calgary, which was where WestJet was founded, its authenticity and entrepreneurial spirit were a perfect match for Westjet. “We want to partner with Canadian companies that align with our values,” said Taylor. “We are incredibly proud of this partnership.”

A Boon To Calgary Tourism

In a separate announcement, but with coincident timing, WestJet also announced a stopover plan in Calgary. WestJet customers connecting through the Calgary International Airport, one of WestJet’s hubs, can stay in Calgary for up to seven days before proceeding on to their ultimate destination. WestJet partnered with Tourism Calgary on the program.

Not only does the stopover program promote travel to Alberta’s largest city–and nearby tourism hotspots like Banff and Lake Louise–but it will further the relationship with Tool Shed. Visitors to Tool Shed Brewery’s taproom in Calgary can show a WestJet boarding pass the day before, the day of or the day after their flight to receive a discount.