WestJet Cargo launches after 10-month regulatory delay

WestJet Cargo has received Transport Canada’s approval and certification for its four 737-800BCFs and began service on April 22 after a 10-month delay. Three of the four aircraft are in service and flying to Vancouver (YVR), Calgary (YYC), Toronto (YYZ), Halifax (YHZ), Los Angeles (LAX) and Miami (MIA). When the fourth freighter goes online — expected in June — the airline will consider expanding into northern Latin America, according to Kirsten de Bruijn, WestJet executive vice president for cargo. She said the cargo line does not plan to travel far into Latin America to ensure it is able to maximize its 23-ton payload for flights into MIA. [caption id="attachment_57282138" align="aligncenter" width="888"] Credit: Cargo Facts analysis of FlightRadar24 data.[/caption] WestJet’s Fleet Air Canada has gravitated toward the larger 767-300 freighter , while Cargojet has an extensive 767-300 fleet and is eyeing 777-200s . WestJet has taken a different route. De Bruijn said the smaller 737-800BCF was strategically chosen because WestJet Cargo plans to service underserved markets with its smaller aircraft, citing operational efficiencies, such as quicker turn times over its larger competitors. WestJet currently operates a fleet of three Boeing 737-800BCFs with a fourth aircraft to be added in June 2023. The fleet consists of the following aircraft: C-GWJE (MSN 34685) formerly with TUIFly, was converted at the GAMECO Facility at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) between February and August 2022. C-FJWS (MSN 34686) formerly with TUIFly, was converted at CAN between November 2021 and April 2022. C-FTWJ (MSN 32904) formerly with JetTime, was converted at the Taikoo (Shandong) Aircraft Engineering Company Limited (STAECO) facility, at Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport (TNA) between October 2021 and April 2022. MSN 35502, formerly C-FAWJ, was ferried to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) on Feb. 23, 2023, and is currently undergoing conversion at Cooperativa Autogestionaria de Servicios Aeroindustriales (COOPESA). It will likely be re-registered and enter service prior in June 2023. WestJet Cargo is looking to add aircraft, and has stated it will be cautious with fleet expansion. The airline will expand its cargo operation in phases, de Bruijn said. Why the delay? For an aircraft to be converted from passenger configuration to freighter configuration, the structural modifications, including reinforcing the floor and cutting a cargo door in the fuselage, generally require the approval of a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from the applicable regulatory agency. However, because Boeing is the original manufacturer and holds the type certificate for the 737-800, it requires a modification of the original Type Certification (TC), but Boeing and WestJet would soon realize that nothing was simple about the process this time around. WestJet will be registering their four aircraft in Canada, so the approval process falls to Transport Canada. Transport Canada and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have historically worked closely and when an STC or modification to the TC is approved by the FAA it is generally fast-tracked and rubberstamped by Transport Canada. However, that wasn't the case with the 737-800BCF. Sources say that incidents involving Boeing covering up safety issues discovered during the approval of the 737-MAX have soiled Boeing's relationship with the FAA. This is also likely the main driver behind Transport Canada's decision to complete an in-depth review of the 737-800BCF approval. Adding to WestJet's frustrations, as they waited for the approval of their 737s, Aeronautical Engineers Inc. (AEI) received approval for their 737-800SF STC from Transport Canada. Robert Conway of AEI stated that this approval took less than three months and allowed Chrono Aviation to enter 737-800SF C-GVZB into service . Those watching from outside the industry must be scratching their heads as C-GVZB was converted at Kelowna Flightcraft's Facility at Kelowna Airport (YLW) which will soon also convert 737-800s under Boeing's BCF approval. Industry outlook The financial outlook for freighter operators in Canada is good but likely not as good as a year ago, when WestJet planned its launch and the industry was still riding the post-pandemic high. In 2022, Air Canada Cargo reported cargo revenues of $916 million USD, down 15.3% from $1.2 billion USD in 2021. Of this, $84 million USD was domestic and $38 million was from U.S. business. Cargojet reported revenue from cargo services of $700 million USD in 2022, up from $546 million USD in 2021. However, the carrier hinted at a downturn in e-commerce demand after announcing the deferral of its 777-300s conversions . WestJet financial statements are no longer published after the airline was acquired by Onex Group in 2019. We have also seen other entrants, as previously mentioned Chrono Aviation is now operating its 737 between Winnipeg (YWG) and various destinations in Northern Canada. Buffalo Airways also plans to enter the mix in June 2023 with their 737-300SF. WestJet will certainly be glad to have its regulatory hurdles behind them so that it can focus on expanding its fleet and growing its network. Where will WestJet take its network? Will it continue to focus on Latin America, or set its sights on disrupting the domestic market?

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