25 JUL 2019: WestJet Airlines Ltd. says its shareholders and option holders voted to approve a proposed acquisition by Onex Corporation. It says 92.5 percent of those who voted did so in favour of the transaction.

WestJet and Onex entered into an agreement May 12 for Onex to pay $31 per share for WestJet.

The deal would see the airline, which has been listed for about two decades on the Toronto Stock Exchange, operate as a privately held company.

WestJet CEO Ed Sims says in a statement that receiving this support is a key step on the path to closing the transaction.

The acquisition is still subject to closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.