Perishables

• Fruits/vegetables 
• Fresh seafood 
  
• Frozen seafood 
  
• Fish 
  
• Animal diagnostic specimens 
  

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When shipping live fish, please remember the following:

• Shipments of live fish must be enclosed in a flexible plastic inner container (at least three millimetres thick) to prevent puncture, and sealed to prevent leakage.

• Absorbent materials must be used between the sealed plastic container and the inside wall of the outer packaging unless the packaging design ensures the containment of liquid.

• The outer packaging should be made of corrugated or solid fiberboard with a water-resistant coating. Insulated material should be used to protect live fish from changes in temperature.

• Heat packs should be used whenever live fish may be exposed to sub-freezing temperatures for extended periods of time. 

• Each carton must be visibly, legibly and durably marked with the words "live fish" on the top and at least on one side.

• Seafood shipments must also be packed in leak-proof containers.

• Plastic bags of four millimetres thickness or two plastic bags of two millimetres thickness each are required for packing such perishable shipments. The plastic bags must be securely sealed to prevent leakage, except when utilized for shipments of live seafood. 

• Styrofoam inserts or protective absorbent materials should be placed between the plastic bag and the inner wall of the shipping carton.

• If the shipment requires refrigeration, it should be packed with a self-contained refrigerant to ensure that storage temperatures are maintained for a period of not less than 48 hours. 

• Perishable shipments should be stored in order to minimize exposure to extreme temperatures.

• Dry ice is not an acceptable form of coolant. 

• Outer cartons should be made of corrugated paperboard or solid fiberboard.

• External resistance to punctures is critical to ensure that the carton will remain leak proof. 

• Cartons should be secured with two nylon bands around the width of each carton.

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• Shipments likely to damage the carrier's equipment or other shipments.
• Shipments tendered with instructions to collect on delivery (C.O.D.). 
• WestJet and WestJet Cargo do not accept endangered species, or the remains from endangered species, as listed on Environment Canada's website under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) or trophies from any of the following five big game animals (cape buffalo, elephants, leopards, lions, rhinoceros) transported from other countries.
• Shipments containing non-human primates, destined for laboratories or laboratory suppliers. 
• Seafood shipments weighing more than 36 kgs or 80 pounds.

• Shipments requiring special attention, protection, or care en route.
• Shipments containing pieces of unusual shape or size.* 
• Shipments (other than seafood) containing any single piece weighing more than 136 kilograms or 300 pounds.
• Compassionate transport. 
• Shipments, or any part thereof, whose overall dimensions (length + width + height) exceed a total of 228 centimetres or 90 inches.
• Shipments of live animals.

*If you have any doubts about whether your shipment is fit to fly, please email or call us at 1-866-952-2746.

WestJet reserves the right to place carriage embargoes on products and calendar dates. Stations will be notified of new or pending embargoes by bulletins from WestJet Cargo. Likewise, any embargoes that are lifted without a previously advised end date will also be communicated by WestJet Cargo. Any uncertainties must be clarified with WestJet Cargo prior to acceptance of the goods for carriage.