Westjet extends Max 8 grounding to early April

Airline says delay in plane’s return to service means more flight changes

Westjet’s fleet of Boeing 737 Max 8 planes will remain grounded through April 4, the airline has announced. The update will mean 18 of the 700 daily flights offered by Westjet — or more than 500 in total — will be affected.

It’s the ninth time since March 2019 that the plane’s return to the skies has been further delayed.

The aircraft has been subject to a global no-fly order since that time as a result of two fatal crashes involving other airlines.

The disruption has forced Westjet, which owns 13 of the planes, to adjust its schedule, suspend routes and operate fuller flights.

“As we have previously done, we are proactively removing the aircraft to offer our guests booking reliability and the ability to plan in advance,” the airline said in a statement Monday, adding it does not have further information surrounding the timing of the aircraft’s return to service.

“This latest schedule update reduces last-minute flight cancellations and disruptions to your travel plans, especially during the busy March break season,” it stated.

“For our guests who have booked their travel during this time period and who are affected by these changes, we are proactively notifying you of your rebooked travel options to offer you choice and flexibility in advance of your travel dates.”

While Westjet has successfully maintained 95 per cent of its scheduled departures since March 2019, the shortage of aircraft has meant the airline has little flexibility in cases of weather delays or unexpected maintenance. The Max 8 was the airline’s most fuel-efficient aircraft. Earlier this month, Air Canada told The Canadian Press its Max 8 aircraft will remain grounded through March 31.