WestJet operated today its first commercial flight using a Boeing 737 MAX since March 2019. The airline’s flight WS115 departed from Calgary to Vancouver. The airline became the first Canadian carrier to bring back the MAX and the fifth worldwide.
The MAX came back: where will it fly?
Onboard WestJet’s first commercial Boeing 737 MAX flight in 22 months were 71 people. These included guests, cabin crew, and members of the airlines’ Unions. Flight WS115 landed in Vancouver at 8:30 local time, right on time.
In a press conference, Captain Scott Wilson, who operated WS115, described the flight as uneventful. Ed Sims, WestJet president, and CEO said:
“The return of WestJet’s MAX aircraft marks an operational milestone after 22 months of intense review and considerable learning. WestJet’s preparation, our processes, our diligence, and, of course, our philosophy of safety above all other considerations have brought us to this point today.”
Starting January 22, the MAX will operate three-times-weekly flights between Calgary and Toronto, said the company in a statement.
Currently, WestJet has a fleet of 13 Boeing 737 MAX, of which only three are fit, at the moment, for commercial service. That’s why the Canadian airline is deploying its MAX planes in only one route. Eventually, it will use the narrowbody on other routes and destinations…
