WestJet (WS, Calgary) CEO Gregg Saretsky says his airline has held talks with Boeing (BOE, Washington National) and Bombardier Aerospace (BBA, Montréal Trudeau) concerning the proposed revised delivery of new aircraft. The carrier suffered a fourth quarter slump on the back of a slowing Alberta economy, hit hard by falling oil prices. Approximately 25% of the airline’s business originates from the region.
Speaking to the Financial Post, Saretsky said talks with Bombardier had focussed on slowing the delivery of Dash 8-400 aircraft destined for its WestJet Encore (WR, Calgary) unit. Currently, ten Q400s are due this year with an additional two due next year.
Talks with Boeing centred on deferring delivery of three new B737-800s.
Saretsky added that plans are also afoot to return nine leased aircraft to their owners by 2017, the first time in the airline’s history it has not renewed leases.
WestJet currently operates thirteen B737-600s, fifty-nine B737-700s, thirty-two B737-800s, four B767-300(ER)s with twenty-three Q400s in service with WestJet Encore.
