WESTJET RETURNS MAX 737 TO SKY

Calgary-based Westjet has successfully completed the first commercial Canadian flight of the Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft since its grounding 22 months ago. Westjet Flight 155 landed in Vancouver from Calgary on Thursday morning. On board the aircraft were 71 passengers, including Westjet president and CEO Ed Sims and board chairman Christopher Burley. Following the flight, Sims said it was an “auspicious day” for the airline. Sims said Westjet is “100 per cent confident” in the safety of the plane, which now allows the pilot to be in absolute control of the aircraft at all times. The Boeing Max was cleared for return to Canadian airspace earlier this week by Transport Canada, concluding nearly two years of government review after the aircraft was involved in two deadly crashes that saw the planes grounded worldwide.