WestJet Group announced plans to expand its fleet by adding two Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in 2024, leased from Aviation Capital Group and High Ridge Aviation. This follows the airline’s previous announcement earlier this month about acquiring three Boeing 737 MAX 8s from BOC Aviation Limited and one from AerDragon. The latest acquisition highlights WestJet’s commitment to bolstering its aircraft lineup with new additions throughout the year.
“In partnership with Aviation Capital Group and High Ridge Aviation, we are thrilled to add these aircraft to our Boeing 737 MAX family, as we further reaffirm our mission of providing affordable air travel to Canadians,” stated Mike Scott, WestJet Group, Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer. “Today’s fleet additions are critical to the execution of our ambitious growth strategy as we work to provide more critical air access to Canadians.”
While the new planes will enhance WestJet’s network capacity, they will initially lack the signature interior cabin experience that passengers associate with the WestJet Group. The company plans to prioritize the refurbishment and updating of these aircraft interiors as part of its ongoing fleet reconfiguration strategy. This effort aims to quickly standardize the passenger experience across all operations.
“ACG is proud to expand its partnership with WestJet and to partake in its ambitious growth plans,” said Alan Mangels, Vice President of Marketing for ACG. “The addition of this latest technology aircraft will not only support WestJet’s growth objectives but will also do so in an environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient way.”
“We’re pleased to support the fleet needs of our long-time friends at WestJet, where our team’s connections date back a quarter century,” shares Greg Conlon, CEO of High Ridge Aviation. “Our highly experienced team and extensive relationships throughout the industry enable us to skillfully manage our fleet.”
Since its inception in 1996, WestJet has significantly impacted Canadian air travel by reducing airfares by 50% and helping to double the number of Canadians who fly. Starting with just three aircraft, 250 staff members, and service to five destinations, WestJet has expanded over 27 years to a fleet of over 180 aircraft, a workforce of 14,000, and service to over 100 destinations across 26 countries.
