To address the ongoing delivery delays of new aircraft from Boeing, WestJet (WS, Calgary) is eyeing a number of used airframes, including Lynx Air’s former B737 MAX, the carrier’s chief executive officer, Alexis von Hoensbroech, was quoted by The Canadian Press.
The ch-aviation fleets module shows that WestJet has already inducted four of Lynx's nine B737-8s all of which were reregistered to WestJet this month.
“In the context of protecting growth plans, we are looking to the used aircraft market,” WestJet told ch-aviation. However, no additional details were provided at this time.
The Canadian carrier has firm orders for 58 new jets, and at the start of 2024 expected to take eight directly from Boeing. However, due to the ongoing quality issues and reduced output at the American manufacturer, WestJet’s growth has been curtailed.
“We were supposed to receive eight aircraft this year [...] right now, we are down to four, and my best guess is we’ll get probably two,” von Hoensbroech said.
At the time of its filing for creditor protection in Canada, Lynx Air had a fleet of nine B737-8s with 29 more on order, including eight B737-8s and twenty-one B737-8-200s. The bankrupt carrier leased its active fleet from five companies: AerDragon Aviation Partners, Aergo Capital, BOC Aviation, High Ridge Aviation, and SMBC Aviation Capital, the ch-aviation fleets module shows.
The planes that have gone to WestJet are:
- C-GFJM (msn 44312), owned by High Ridge Aviation;
- C-GFVE (msn 66474), owned by BOC Aviation;
- C-GFJQ (msn 63383), owned by BOC Aviation; and
- C-GFJO (msn 63382), owned by BOC Aviation.
They all remain stored in Tucson International, according to FlightRadar24 ADS-B data. WestJet’s fleet comprises 179 aircraft, including thirty-nine B737-700s, thirty-six B737-8s, forty-six B737-800s, four B737-800(BCF)s, seven B787-9s, and forty-seven DHC-8-Q400s operated by subsidiary WestJet Encore (WR, Calgary).
Meanwhile, the former Lynx MAX 8s that remain stored at Tucson International without an appointed operator include:
- C-GUUL (msn 42846), owned by SMBC Aviation Capital;
- C-GULN (msn 42845), owned by SMBC Aviation Capital;
- C-FULI (msn 44314), owned by Aergo Capital;
- C-FULJ (msn 42847), owned by SMBC Aviation Capital; and
- C-FULH (msn 44306), owned by AerDragon Aviation Partners.
WestJet was not the only carrier interested in acquiring Lynx Air assets. Flair Airlines (F8, Kelowna) said in March it was keen on participating in the insolvent carrier's proposed Sale and Investment Solicitation Process (SISP) and obtaining some of the B737-8s or order slots. Due to the lessors' repossession rights, the SISP had to be completed by April 22, 2024, and no further information about this process taking place was available at Lynx’s bankruptcy filing.
