WestJet has today taken delivery of their first of four Boeing 737-800BCF converted freighter on lease from BBAM. WestJet Cargo will now become the first airline in Canada to operate the aircraft type which will be used for express cargo and e-commerce service.
On Friday (April 8, 2022), WestJet announced the delivery of their first of four Boeing 737-800BCFs (Boeing Converted Freighters), which landed in Calgary. The aircraft is on lease from BBAM Limited Partnership (BBAM), and WestJet Cargo will now become the first Canadian operator of the type, which will be used for express cargo and e-commerce freight. Prior to delivery, the aircraft (MSN 34686) underwent conversion by Boeing at an approved MRO facility in Guangzhou, China. The carrier plans on having all four Boeing 737-800BCFs in service by the end of 2022.
In Friday’s announcment, WestJet’s CEO, Alexis von Hoensbroech, said,
“The delivery of our first freighter to our home base in Calgary, Alberta gives us great confidence in the growth and development of our commercial cargo service and I am eager to see our new dedicated commercial cargo service take flight as we begin providing competitive services to cargo customers across Canada.
“WestJet Cargo's mission is to provide our customers with the reliable on-time performance and competitive cost advantage synonymous with the WestJet brand and I look forward to our continued partnership with BBAM, as we witness our dedicated freighters provide our customers increased reliability, flexibility and capacity to transport their diverse shipments to their chosen destination.”
Also commenting on the milestone delivery to WestJet Cargo, BBAM’s President and CEO, Steve Zissis, added,
“BBAM is excited to partner with our long-time customer WestJet as they launch WestJet Cargo. This is our first North American placement of the Boeing 737-800BCF, an important milestone for BBAM's industry-leading freighter program.”
WestJet Cargo’s new Boeing 737-800BCF has been equipped with fuel-efficient CFM56-7B engines and the aircraft offers a quick load capability, which will deliver more flexibility and frequency for customers.
With over 25 years of service, WestJet has cut airfares for Canadians in half and increased the flying population around Canada by over 50 percent. The airline launched in 1996 with three aircraft, 250 employees and five destinations, and has now grown to more than 180 aircraft and 14,000 employees, offering service to 100 destinations in 23 countries (pre-pandemic). Even during the pandemic, WestJet maintained their rating by Cirium as one of the top ten airlines for on-time performance in North America.
Source: WestJet/Cision