WestJet has placed an additional order for five Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft to expand its fleet. The Canadian airline has signed a leasing agreement with CDB Aviation for three planes and with Avolon for an additional two, following the same arrangement.
The Canadian airline will receive up to 22 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft by the end of 2025, and an additional 62 planes of the same model by the end of 2028. With this order portfolio, WestJet is the airline that has placed the most orders for narrow-body aircraft throughout Canada.
Mike Scott, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the WestJet Group, stated «We will soon be adding these five aircraft to our 737 MAX family, and we hope that this additional capacity enhances the expansion of our already planned fleet, further enabling us to provide affordable and diverse air travel options for our guests.»
«As a champion of leisure travel from coast to coast in Canada and an airline of Western origin, the ongoing expansion of our fleet alongside our low-cost base is a key accelerator of our growth strategy,» Scott added.
The CEO of CDB Aviation, Jie Chen, mentioned: «CDB Aviation values our growing relationship with WestJet, and we are pleased to support the airline’s fleet expansion in an environmentally friendly way by leasing these three new fuel-efficient B737-8 aircraft directly from our order portfolio.»
Finally, Paul Geaney, President and Chief Commercial Officer of Avolon, noted that «We are delighted to extend our strong relationship with WestJet and support the fleet expansion needs of WestJet with our Boeing order portfolio.»
«We look forward to continued growth in the aviation sector in the coming years, even in North America, and we are pleased to provide a fleet solution to a strategic client in the region,» added Geaney.
WestJet currently operates a fleet of 128 aircraft, comprising 37 Boeing 737-700, 50 Boeing 737-800, 32 Boeing 737 MAX 8, and 7 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.
