With a little more than two weeks to go before the planned launch of its new regional airline Encore, WestJet Airlines officially took the keys to its first two Bombardier Q400 planes at a ceremony in Toronto on Thursday.

"They're shiny and new, complete with that 'new plane smell,'" said WestJet spokesperson Robert Palmer. "They look absolutely gorgeous."

The planes are the first in what will eventually become the Encore fleet, serving smaller regional destinations in the Canadian market, as well as enhancing WestJet's existing service network. WestJet has a firm order in place for 20 planes, with options for 25 more, and plans to take possession of approximately one new turboprop a month for the next several years.

The Q400s were delivered to WestJet at Bombardier's Toronto plant, where they were manufactured. They will make their first public appearance in Calgary at an unveiling ceremony at WestJet headquarters on June 20, before taking their first flights - from Calgary to Nanaimo, B.C., and from Calgary to Fort St. John, B.C. - on June 24. Flights from Calgary to Brandon, Man. - another brand-new destination to be served by Encore - will begin in September.

While Encore will be launched in the West first and headquartered in Calgary, WestJet's goal is to eventually take its regional service from coast to coast.

WestJet CEO Gregg Saretsky said in about 18 to 24 months, the new Q400s will be flying in eastern and central Canada.

"We're on a march east," said Saretsky. "So we're starting from our headquarters in Calgary and one province at a time, we're going to continue marching east." Although the company's focus right now is on launching its Encore service, Saretsky wouldn't rule out the possibility of eventually flying larger planes farther distances, or buying up another airline, such as Porter.

"I've been in this industry 28 years," said Saretsky. "I've learned never to say never. Would we fly one day to London, Paris, Shanghai and Beijing? Absolutely, that's possible. Would we buy another airline? That's possible too. Are our energies focused on either of those things right now? No." However, he added that WestJet isn't likely to start flying larger aircraft for at least five years. The list value for WestJet's firm order for 20 Q400 Nex-Gen turboprop aircraft is $683 million US. If WestJet w as to exercise all its options for up to 25 additional Q400s, the list value of the total deal would be about $1.59 billion US.

The airline's main rival, Air Canada, has increased frequencies in Western Canada with its own fleet of Bombardier Q400s, operated by Jazz. It is also set to begin overseas flights next month on its low-cost carrier Rouge.