Transport Canada clears B737MAX; WestJet resumes flights

On 18 January, Transport Canada cleared the B737MAX fit for duty and as a result, WestJet resumed flying with the type on 20 January. The first aircraft back in service are B737-8 C-FHCM (43796) and C-FRYV (60514) For now, the airline plans to deploy the MAX on the Calgary-Vancouver and Calgary-Toronto routes until more aircraft are available for duty.

Currently, WestJet has a fleet of thirteen B737-8s. Of the eleven non-flying B737-8s, one is currently parked at Calgary, while the other ten are all in storage at Marana-Pinal Air Park (AZ). These will be flown back to Canada in the coming weeks and months, depending on the airline's needs.

Air Canada, which has 24 B737-8s in the fleet is also actively preparing to resume flights with their fleet. So far, they have re-activated four B737-8s and are planning to resume commercial flights with their MAXs from 1 February onwards.

WestJet has now become the fifth airline restoring operations with the MAX, after GOL, Aeromexico, American Airlines and COPA. The MAX has now been approved for duty by Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Panama and the US. It's expected that the EU is set to follow next week.

Photo by WestJet.