WestJet returns two hail-damaged planes to service, cancellations continue

WestJet has returned two aircraft to the skies following a powerful hailstorm in Calgary, AB on August 5 that damaged more than 10 per cent of its fleet.

As first reported by Simple Flying, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 787-9 have been repaired and are carrying WestJet customers once again.  

That leaves 15 aircraft still in the repair shop, including four De Havilland Canada Dash 8 Q400 and 11 jet-powered aircraft, the report says.

While WestJet initially said that 16 aircraft were damaged by the hailstorm, later inspections revealed that another plane needed to be fixed, taking the total damaged airplanes to 17, an airline spokesperson told the outlet. 

The out-of-commission planes have led to flight cancellations, which are continuing. WestJet cancelled 888 of its flights between the August 5 and August 21 period, according to data from Flightradar24.

Flightradar24’s forecast also shows that WestJet is planning to cancel another 100 flights between August 23 and August 28, including both domestic and U.S. itineraries.  

READ MORE: WestJet says flight cancellations post-hailstorm will continue for “foreseeable future

In a statement issued earlier this month, WestJet executives said the airline would continue issuing “proactive cancellations for the foreseeable future” as it worked to return its damaged planes to service.

"We share in Canadians’ frustration for the unpredictable nature of this summer travel season and are incredibly disappointed that the compounding impacts of [the hailstorm] continue to disrupt the travel plans of our valued guests,” said Diederik Pen, president of WestJet Airlines and chief operating officer, WestJet Group, on Aug. 14.

Hail & planes don’t mix  

In a corporate video WestJet posted this month, Gandeephan Ganeshalingam, VP of technical operations at WestJet, articulated the severity of the hail damage, which appears to be dents on aircraft body and wings.

Speaking from a Calgary point of view, Ganeshalingam referred to hail as a “frequent challenge” during Canadian summers.

"While hail may cause cosmetic issues to our cars, they typically remain functional. The same cannot be said for aircraft – particularly when it comes to flight control services," he said. "These are the aerodynamic components that manage an aircraft’s maneuvering, such as altitude and direction. These surfaces are vital for the safe operation of aircraft. Their aerodynamic composition is crucial to supporting better fuel and flight efficiency.”

To fix the planes, inspections must be done, which will require WestJet to lean heavily on its aircraft maintenance engineers (AMEs) to get the job done (this is the same group that called a surprise strike during the Canada Day long weekend, disrupting hundreds of flights).

In the video, Ganeshalingam said WestJet needs 12 AMEs per aircraft working 24-7 to complete the repairs.

As previously reported, WestJet is operating extra sections to make up for the lost capacity, utilizing planes from WestJet Encore and Canadian North.

Additionally, WestJet says it has contacted Boeing and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) to secure additional resourcing and expedite aircraft repairs.

Visit WestJet's Guest Updates page for more info. For non-imminent requests that cannot be self-served, customers are being advised to book a call-back appointment at WestJet.com/contact.

WestJet wasn’t the only one to feel the impacts of baseball-sized hail. Calgary International Airport (YYC), too, was damaged during the storm as water leaked through the ceiling of the airport's domestic terminal.