WestJet faces indefinite delays on dozens of new aircraft deliveries after a panel blowout on a Boeing 737 Max plane last month prompted a halt to greater production at the U.S. aircraft maker.
The Calgary-based carrier bought 42 Boeing 737 Max 10 jetliners in 2022, with options for 22 more 91裸聊视频� on top of nearly two dozen earlier Max orders still in the pipeline.
The multibillion-dollar deals were slated to bolster WestJet91裸聊视频檚 fleet by at least 65 planes 91裸聊视频� 50 of them Max 10s 91裸聊视频� by 2029 in a move the airline called a 91裸聊视频済ame-changer91裸聊视频� that would reduce fuel costs and 91裸聊视频渦nderpin91裸聊视频� its growth.
However, the Max 10 has yet to receive final certification and, after the panel emergency, U.S. regulators said they would halt production expansion at Boeing until safety concerns were sufficiently addressed.
The Federal Aviation Administration grounded all 737 Max 9s for inspection and launched a probe after a panel known as a door plug tore away from the fuselage of an Alaska Airlines plane while in flight on Jan. 5, leaving a refrigerator-sized hole in the cabin wall and prompting an emergency landing.
As of Feb. 5, 94 per cent of the 144 Max 9s flown by United Airlines and Alaska Airlines 91裸聊视频� two-thirds of all Max 9s in operation globally 91裸聊视频� had been cleared to return to service, according to the FAA.
WestJet said it could handle the production turbulence.
91裸聊视频淲e continue to work closely with Boeing on all aspects of aircraft delivery and timelines. We believe our order book and fleet planning have the built-in flexibility to support WestJet91裸聊视频檚 growth plans,91裸聊视频� spokeswoman Madison Kruger said in an email.
The Max 10 is the largest plane in the latest line of 737s and offers 20 per cent fewer carbon emissions per passenger than the previous generation. Fleet rejuvenation is essential to ensuring efficiency, bringing down costs 91裸聊视频� jet fuel and labour are airlines91裸聊视频� two biggest expenses 91裸聊视频� and showing a commitment to green targets.
91裸聊视频淭he ability of WestJet to do that is compromised by Boeing,91裸聊视频� said John Gradek, who teaches aviation management at McGill University.
91裸聊视频淭he older the fleet becomes, the more expensive and the less efficient it becomes,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频淚f that airplane isn91裸聊视频檛 going to see the light of day for years 91裸聊视频� if ever 91裸聊视频� because of what91裸聊视频檚 going on, the plans that WestJet has for fleet renewal are going to be in jeopardy.91裸聊视频�
The 65 new aircraft ordered by WestJet amount to nearly 40 per cent of its current fleet, according to Airfleets.net. Many of them would likely replace some of the 88 airliners from the previous generation of 737 planes over time.
The list price of the 42 Max 10s ordered in 2022 totalled $7.6 billion, though large purchases typically come with major discounts.
At the time, both Boeing and WestJet stressed the importance of the deal.
91裸聊视频淭he 737-10 will be a game changer, with one of the lowest costs per seat among mid-range aircraft. This will foster our low-cost positioning and affordability for Canadians,91裸聊视频� said Stan Deal, who heads Boeing91裸聊视频檚 commercial airlines division, in a September 2022 statement.
WestJet said then that the planes would 91裸聊视频渟trengthen the airline91裸聊视频檚 presence in Western Canada and underpin growth in transcontinental and leisure offerings91裸聊视频� from Eastern Canada.
The carrier faces challenges beyond delivery delays. A pair of no-frills airlines based in Alberta 91裸聊视频� Flair Airlines and Lynx Air 91裸聊视频� continue to compete with WestJet, following its wind-down of budget subsidiary Swoop in October. A new collective agreement with pilots has also raised labour costs for Canada91裸聊视频檚 second-largest carrier, all as battles for a bigger share of domestic and sunshine destination traffic drag on.
Other Boeing partners are likely to feel the impact of the FAA91裸聊视频檚 order, which caps 737 production at 38 per month until the regulator is 91裸聊视频渟atisfied that the quality control issues91裸聊视频� are resolved. Boeing had initially planned to hike production to 42 per month in 2024.
91裸聊视频淭he long-term implications of the grounding are potential delivery delays and a further push-out of the Max-10 certification,91裸聊视频� wrote analyst Savanthi Syth of Raymond James in a note to investors on Jan. 31.
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