Today, Transport Canada (TC) issued an Airworthiness Directive and Interim Order as part of their process to safely return the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to commercial service. We are now one final milestone away from returning WestJet’s MAX to the Canadian skies. The final step is when TC officially lifts the existing Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), which prohibits the commercial operation of the aircraft in Canadian airspace. We expect this to happen on Wednesday, January 20.
Transport Canada aviation safety experts have completed their independent review of the necessary modifications to the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and validated the changes most recently certified by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA.)
WestJet’s MAX aircraft have been updated with the mandatory modifications, which have been reviewed, tested and approved by Transport Canada’s safety experts and all aircraft will be flown on a validation flight prior to return to service.
In addition, all comprehensive mandatory and regulatory pilot training and education will be completed by every 737 MAX pilot prior to flying the aircraft.
As announced, our first MAX route will be three-times weekly between YYC-YYZ. This remains unchanged; however, for operational ease and stakeholder engagement, the first commercial flight will be between YYC-YVR, the morning of Thursday, January 21. Additional routes will be phased into our winter flight schedule between now and April 2021.
We will continue to update you on our MAX aircraft. More details and video can be found on www.westjet.com/maxinfo.