WestJet planning to return Boeing 737 MAX to the skies later this month
WestJet has announced that it plans to return the controversial Boeing 737 MAX to the skies – with passengers – later this month.
But Transport Canada will first need to approve the flights.
The 737 MAX was involved in two deadly crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia in 2018 and 2019, prompting its grounding.
The crashes, which were caused by technical faults, killed over 300 people.
Since those tragedies, however, Transport Canada has said that safety experts have validated design changes for the aircraft and outlined requirements for Canadians airlines to return the planes to use.
By Cirium2021-01-06T19:19:00+00:00
WestJet will begin non-commercial test flights of its Boeing 737 Max aircraft during the coming weeks with the aim of having the aircraft type ready to resume revenue flights on 21 January pending approval from Transport Canada.
The Calgary-based airline would take a phased approach to resume Max flights once Transport Canada allows the Boeing aircraft to re-enter Canadian airspace after it has been grounded for 20 months, WestJet chief executive Ed Sims states.
“We will be forthcoming with our guests on where the Max aircraft are flying, and we will be flexible with our change and cancel policy to ensure our guests can make their travel plans confidently,” Sims says.