Canada’s second largest airline WestJet has signed a lease agreement with BOC Aviation for three Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
WestJet announced on June 3, 2024, that the Boeing 737-8 jets are scheduled to arrive in 2024 once the lease agreement details are finalized.
“We have an ambitious growth strategy, and the expansion of our fleet is critical to our mission of providing affordable air travel to Canadians,” Mike Scott, Executive Vice-President and CFO at WestJet Group, said. “Working with a trusted partner like BOC Aviation supports us in meeting our growth expectations for 2024.”
The three 737 MAX have been previously used by other operators and are powered by CFM LEAP-1B engines.
In a statement WestJet confirmed that the cabin interiors will be updated as part of the carrier’s existing fleet reconfiguration plans.
“We are delighted to welcome WestJet, one of Canada’s leading airlines, back to our customer base. This deal is a testament to our long-term relationship and our ability to evolve and meet our airline customers’ fleet expansion needs,” Steven Townend, CEO and Managing Director at BOC Aviation, said. “With this transaction, we have provided WestJet with one of the world’s most popular single-aisle jets, delivering from our fleet that comprises 77% latest technology aircraft.”
According to ch-aviation.com, WestJet currently has a fleet of 118 active aircraft including an existing fleet of Boeing 737-8s. The airline is currently awaiting delivery of 19 Boeing 737 MAX 8s and 48 737 MAX 10s.
In January 2024, Calgary-based WestJet announced it had entered into agreements with two leasing companies for an additional five Boeing 737 MAX 8s to join its fleet in early 2025.
“Two years ago, we set out a plan for growth that would maintain our position as both Canada’s national leisure champion and western home carrier, while enhancing domestic connectivity from coast-to-coast,” Scott added. “We are seeing the benefits of our strategy come to life across our network and the consistent growth of our fleet capacity is essential to maintaining our momentum.”
