WestJet (WS, Calgary) has announced it will suspend four routes across Canada and an international run between Halifax and Paris CDG for at least two months owing to the ongoing global grounding of the B737 MAX.
With thirteen B737-8s stuck on the tarmac, WestJet has re-routed other aircraft and adjusted its schedules up until July 3. But the Canadian LCC has also “made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend a small number of routes where no alternative aircraft were available,” according to a statement.
On Halifax-Paris CDG, flights have been suspended between June 3 and August 2. Affected passengers will be rebooked either through WestJet's Calgary hub, where the airline flies a B787-9 to Paris CDG, or through a partner airline.
Flights between Edmonton International and both Ottawa International and Montréal Trudeau have been suspended from June 3 to July 3. Flights between Vancouver International and Regina between the same dates have also been deferred. A route between Toronto Pearson and Kelowna has been suspended from June 3 to June 27.
According to the ch-aviation fleets module, besides the thirteen inactive MAX aircraft already delivered, WestJet has eight more B737-8s on order, as well as twenty-three B737-7s and twelve B737-10s.
Citing weak demand, in October 2018 the carrier signed an agreement with Boeing (BOE, Washington National) for the deferral of four of the B737-8s, originally due for delivery in 2019, until 2020 and 2021.
At the same time, to maintain capacity it also executed lease extensions on four aircraft whose contracts were due to expire in 2019: two B737-700s for additional terms ranging from four to 11 years, and two B737-800s for additional terms of five and seven years each.
WestJet currently operates thirteen B737-600s, fifty-three B737-700s and forty-two B737-800s. It also operates four B767-300(ER)s, but these are in the process of being replaced by its first three B787-9s, which were delivered during 1Q19.
