WestJet turning to used plane market to offset Boeing delivery delays: CEO

WestJet has its eye on a number of used aircraft it hopes to add to its fleet to offset delays on pending aircraft deliveries from Boeing, the CEO of the Calgary-based carrier said. Alexis von Hoensbroech told a Calgary business audience Wednesday that WestJet is in the market for used planes in the wake of the ongoing situation at the embattled U.S. aircraft manufacturer. The airline has a firm order for 58 new Boeing airplanes to be delivered between now and 2028, but a door plug blowout on a Boeing Max 737 plane flown by Alaska Airlines in January prompted U.S. regulators to halt a production expansion at the U.S. aircraft maker until an investigation can be completed. Von Hoensbroech said WestJet remains confident in the safety and quality of Boeing airplanes, but the manufacturer's challenges are inhibiting WestJet's own plans to grow its fleet and add new routes. "It’s slowing us down right now. We were supposed to receive eight aircraft this year ... right now we are down to four (expected) and my best guess is we’ll get probably two," he said. One possible source of used planes that WestJet is keen on to fill its unmet demand are the nine Boeing Max 8 planes previously leased by Lynx Air. Lynx was a Calgary-based discount carrier that shut down in February, a few days after receiving creditor protection and less than two years after launching its first flight. Von Hoensbroech said he is optimistic WestJet will be able to obtain "at least a share" of those planes. "We are trying to get through this (Boeing delay) from the used market. And I guess over the next couple of weeks we'll probably have some news that we've been successful," he said.<br/>