Air Canada and WestJet Remove Boeing 737 MAX From Schedules Until Late June
- Joe Breitfeller
- Jan 22, 2020
- 1 min read
After Boeing announced on Tuesday that they expected the 737 MAX to return to service in mid-2020, both Air Canada and WestJet announced the removal of the grounded aircraft from their schedules until late June.
Air Canada announced Wednesday that they have removed the Boeing 737 MAX from their schedule until June 30, 2020. The airline made the decision after Boeing announced Tuesday an expected return to service (RTS) timeframe of mid-2020. In Wednesday’s announcement, Air Canada explained that the move was designed to provide certainty for their customers and allow the airline to effectively manage their schedules and fleet until the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport Canada and other global regulators approve the RTS. At that time, Air Canada will make their own determination about when their 24 grounded Boeing 737 MAX’s will be reintegrated to their fleet in revenue service.
In a separate press release on Tuesday, after Boeing announced that the 737 MAX would likely not return to revenue service until mid-2020, WestJet announced the removal of the aircraft from their schedule through June 24, 2020. In the announcement, WestJet’s President and CEO, Ed Sims said,
“We thank our guests for their patience and our WestJetters for their commitment to keeping our airline moving safely and on time as we continue to adjust our schedule. We remain confident in the regulatory process undertaken by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Transport Canada to ensure the safe return of the aircraft.”
Since the Boeing 737 MAX’s grounding last March, WestJet has completed 98 percent of their planned departures, even without their 13 grounded MAX aircraft.
Source(s): Air Canada, WestJet
