WestJet (WS, Calgary) has announced dry-lease contracts for five brand-new B737-8s with CDB Aviation (three aircraft) and Avolon (two aircraft).
The Canadian airline expects to take delivery of the five jets in early 2025. Combined with its existing order book, WestJet will now receive 22 brand-new B737 MAX airplanes before the end of 2025 and up to 62 additional units (including options) of this family before the end of 2028, making it the largest narrowbody order book of any Canadian carrier.
The ch-aviation fleets module shows that WestJet has a firm order with Boeing (BOE, Washington National) for nine B737-8s and forty-eight B737-10s, and a further ten B737-8s, including the newly announced contract, from lessors (the other five are from SMBC Aviation Capital).
“We are adding these five aircraft to our B737 MAX family very soon and look forward to this additional capacity enhancing our already forecasted fleet expansion, further enabling our execution of providing affordable and diverse air travel options for our guests,” said Mike Scott, the Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer.
The ch-aviation module shows WestJet operates a fleet of 176 planes, including forty B737-700s, thirty-two B737-8s, forty-six B737-800s, four B737-800(BCF)s, and seven B787-9s. Additionally, its subsidiary, WestJet Encore (WR, Calgary), operates forty-seven DHC-8-Q400s on behalf of its parent.
Late last year, WestJet announced the sale and leaseback of six B737-800s with Dublin-based lessor Genesis Aircraft Services.
