Max-10's for WestJet

[Maverick]

WestJet Group inks deal with Boeing for an additional 42 737-10 aircraft plus 22 options

By WestJet|September 29, 2022|4 min read

WestJet Group furthers growth strategy, inking deal with Boeing for an additional 42 fuel-efficient 737-10 aircraft plus 22 options

Multi-billion-dollar investment to strengthen airline’s presence in Western Canada and underpin growth in transcontinental and leisure offerings from eastern Canadian communities 

Aircraft to foster low-cost positioning and greater affordability for Canadians

Today the WestJet Group announced an agreement with Boeing to purchase an additional 42 MAX aircraft, along with options for 22 more. This order is in addition to WestJet’s remaining 23 MAX orders and extends the airline’s fleet growth plans out to 2028.

“With this additional order, the WestJet Group will accept delivery of no fewer than 65 aircraft in the next six years, at least 50 will be 737-10 aircraft, furthering our commitment to affordable travel options for Canadians and jobs for our company and the aerospace industry,” said WestJet Group Chief Executive Officer Alexis von Hoensbroech. “WestJet’s expansion plans are rooted in an enhanced presence in Western Canada and a growth strategy in eastern Canadian communities through increased transcontinental flights and more direct routes to sun and leisure destinations. This will be further strengthened once our Sunwing transaction has been approved.”

WestJet’s Board of Directors approved the order for state-of-the-art Boeing 737-10 aircraft, the largest model in Boeing’s MAX family. The 737-10 provides superior economic benefits to any other 737 aircraft in WestJet's fleet, while ensuring simplicity through expected training commonality across the airline’s 737 fleet.

“The 737-10 will provide WestJet with additional capacity and unrivalled efficiency as the airline further expands its network of destinations across Canada and internationally. WestJet understands the value of the 737 MAX family, with the 737-10 set to perfectly complement the outstanding capability and flexibility already afforded by the 737-8, along with improved sustainability across its fleet,” said Stan Deal, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

 

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“The 737-10 will be a game changer, with one of the lowest costs per seat among mid-range aircraft. This will foster our low-cost positioning and affordability for Canadians. In addition, with its lower fuel consumption and reduced emissions, the 737-10 will further improve the environmental footprint of our fleet,” said von Hoensbroech. “Thank you to our Board of Directors, who endorsed both the business and environmental merits of this agreement. It reflects our confidence in our business model and sustained market recovery, as we emerge from the pandemic being one of few airlines at scale that have not drawn any sector-specific government aid.”

The WestJet Group’s fleet, with an average age under 10 years, is among the youngest of established North American carriers. 

Features of the Boeing 737-10:

• Greater fuel efficiency and the best per-seat economics of any single-aisle airplane in the industry. 
• Can cover 99 per cent of the world's single-aisle routes, ideal to serve WestJet’s growing domestic and international network.
• Reduced fuel use and carbon emissions by at least 20 per cent per seat compared to previous generations, helping airlines make air travel even more sustainable. 
• Improved guest comfort with a quieter cabin featuring the Boeing Sky Interior, LED lighting that enhances the sense of spaciousness and larger overhead stowage bins.
• Quieter airplane, creating a 50 percent smaller noise footprint than the airplanes it replaces.

WestJet has a current fleet size of approximately 170 aircraft across the WestJet Group, with 110 active 737s. WestJet announced its strategic path forward in June, with the 737 as a key pillar of long-term growth. 

 

WestJet Group furthers growth strategy, inking deal with Boeing for an additional 42 fuel-efficient 737-10 aircraft plus 22 options | WestJet official site

[Maverick]

Then there's that niggling issue is certification...

Boeing expects 737 MAX 10 certification in H1 2023: Report (aerotime.aero)

[MD2]

Good news for WestJet and its people. Are any of these replacements for the existing tails or all new additions?

[W5]

https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/congress-eyes-max-7-10-certification-extension

 

Congress Eyes MAX 7, 10 Certification Extension

Congress appears to be Boeing’s last hope to extend the certification deadline for its 737 MAX 7 and 10 models to avoid a hugely expensive redesign of the models’ flight deck alert system—or the possible cancellation of both programs. FAA Director of Certification Lirio Liu sent Boeing a letter in mid-September saying there was no hope those two aircraft will be certified by the end of the year because Boeing hasn’t provided the necessary documentation. Two years ago, the agency gave Boeing until the end of this year to get the 7 and 10 certified without the requirement to bring the alerting system up to current FAA standards. The political wheels are already turning, however.

The Seattle Times is reporting that Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, has filed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would push the requirement for the new alert system out to the end of 2024. Influential Democratic members of both houses are at best lukewarm to the extension and its failure poses a big problem for Boeing. CEO David Calhoun has said he’d consider canceling the 10 if the company has to redesign the alert system and now the 7 is also affected by the circumstances. Further complicating Calhoun’s call is that Boeing just booked a $2.8 billion order from WestJet in Canada for 42 MAX 10s.

[W5]

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/with-two-max-models-at-risk-congress-moves-to-give-boeing-a-break

[Maverick]

Uh-oh!

BUSINESS NEWS

OCTOBER 11, 202210:46 AMUPDATED 17 HOURS AGO

U.S. Senate defense bill does not extend Boeing 737 MAX certification -sources

By David Shepardson

2 MIN READ

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The latest version of the U.S. Senate’s defense bill does not contain an amendment to extend a December deadline for Boeing Co to win regulatory approval for the 737 MAX 7 and MAX 10 jetliners, according to sources and documents seen by Reuters.

 

Slideshow ( 2 images )

Late last month, Republican Senator Roger Wicker proposed extending until September 2024 the deadline for the U.S. planemaker to win approval for the two new 737 variants.

Unless it gains an extension from Congress, Boeing must meet new modern cockpit-alerting requirements that could significantly delay the planes’ entry into service. Wicker had sought to attach the measure to the version of the defense bill that was filed on Tuesday.

Boeing shares, which were trading around $135 a share before Reuters reported the news, fell to $131.57 at the close, down 33 cents from the previous session’s close.

 

The requirements were adopted by Congress as part of certification reform passed after two fatal 737 MAX crashes killed 346 people and led to the bestselling plane’s 20-month grounding.

Wicker, top Republican on the Senate Commerce Committee, did not immediately comment.

There are other opportunities to make changes to the defense bill and an extension could be attached to other measures Congress will consider before year end.

 

On Friday, the union representing about 10,000 Southwest Airlines pilots told Reuters it supports the extension, while the Allied Pilots Association representing 15,000 American Airlines pilots said it opposes it.

Both American and Southwest fly the MAX 8. Southwest has ordered 192 MAX 7 planes. Boeing has an estimated 1,000 orders and commitments for MAX 7 and 10s.

Boeing declined to comment. In the past, it has said it is safer to have one common 737 cockpit alerting system.

Reuters reported last week Boeing does not anticipate winning regulatory approval for the MAX 10 before next summer, according to a Federal Aviation Administration letter.

Reporting by David Shepardson; editing by Jonathan Oatis, Nick Zieminski and David Gregorio

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

U.S. Senate defense bill does not extend Boeing 737 MAX certification -sources | Reuters

Edited October 12, 2022 by Maverick

[W5]

If Congress doesn’t mandate Boeing 737 MAX safety retrofits, Europe will

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/if-congress-doesnt-mandate-boeing-737-max-safety-retrofits-europe-will/