WestJet aircraft damaged in a hailstorm are beginning to return to service, the carrier has confirmed, with repairs completed on one Boeing 737-8 and one 787.
Initially, a total of 16 aircraft were thought to be affected before further inspection bumped that total figure up to 17, the airline told Aviation Week. The four De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400s and 13 Boeing jets account for just over 10% of the Calgary-based airline’s fleet. Fifteen aircraft are still undergoing repairs and inspections.
“WestJet’s dedicated team of Tech Ops employees has been working around the clock to complete all repairs as safely and efficiently as possible,” an airline spokesperson said. “To support this team’s critical work, WestJet has engaged external MROs to temporarily increase capacity.”
The aircraft were damaged during a severe weather event in Calgary on Aug. 5. At the time of the storm, the carrier had 22 aircraft on the ground, four of which were moved into a hangar and spared while another two were initially cleared with only minor damage. Upon further inspection, WestJet identified an additional aircraft that required minimal repairs; it is one of the two aircraft that have since been returned to service, the carrier said.
“The severity and direction of the actual thunderstorm and hail became clear less than 30 min. before impact,” WestJet President and Group COO Diederik Pen said on Aug. 7.
Due to the grounded aircraft, a total of 473 cancellations were reported by WestJet between Aug. 5-Aug. 11. By Aug. 14, the airline was canceling an average of 50 flights per day, having added additional capacity through an agreement with Canadian North and with subsidiary WestJet Encore.
In making repairs, the airline is using a combination of 3D imaging, nondestructive testing and manual inspections to document, map and assess the severity of the damage. All damages are being reviewed and triaged in agreement with Boeing, WestJet noted. The airline expects to continue returning aircraft to service in a phased approach as repairs are completed.
WestJet has an in-service mainline fleet of 108 according to the Aviation Week Network Fleet Discovery database, a mix of 29 737-8s, 30 737-700s, 40 737-800s, two 737-800Fs and seven 787-9s. WestJet Encore’s fleet currently comprises 25 in-service Dash 8-400s, Fleet Discovery shows.
Christine Boynton
Christine Boynton is a Senior Editor covering air transport in the Americas for Aviation Week Network.