Westjet WS27 B763 diverted to Keflavik, engine #1 problem

A Westjet Boeing 767-300, registration C-FOGJ performing flight WS-27 from London Gatwick,EN (UK) to Edmonton,AB (Canada) with 258 people on board, was enroute at FL350 about 130nm southsoutheast of Keflavik (Iceland) about 2 hours into the flight when a bang was heard and jolt was perceived on board of the aircraft. The flight crew decided to divert to Keflavik, entered a hold at FL110 to burn off fuel and landed safely on Keflavik's runway 11 about 110 minues after leaving FL350.

Passengers reported there was a loud bang from the left hand side and a jolt, they initially believed it was turbulence. About 10 minutes later the captain announced there had been a malfunction of some sort with one of the engines (CF6), they are diverting to Keflavik and would land within 10 minutes. A short time later the captain announced, they would be burning off fuel for about an hour before landing.

The airport reported the aircraft had an engine issue, the left hand engine was operating at reduced power.

The airline reported a potentially mechanical issue. Arrangements are being made to take the passengers to Edmonton.

The Aviation Herald

Westjet WS610 B737 diverted to Regina, smoke in cockpit & communication difficulties

A Westjet Boeing 737-700, registration C-GWJG performing flight WS-610 from Calgary,AB to Ottawa,ON (Canada) with 133 people on board, was enroute at FL390 about 60nm northwest of Regina,SK (Canada) when the crew observed smoke in the cockpit and donned their oxygen masks. The crew initiated an emergency descent and diverted to Regina. During the descent the crew had difficulties communicating with ATC. The aircraft landed safely in Regina.

The Canadian TSB reported the audio control panel #1 was at fault and was replaced. The defective audio panel has been forwarded to the manufacturer for further analysis.

The Aviation Herald

Westjet adds St. John's–Tampa seasonal service in April and May

Westjet during the month of April and May 2017 plans to launch new US service from St. John’s, Newfoundland, as the airline plans to serve St. John’s – Tampa route. Service will be operated by Boeing 737-700, from 07APR17 to 26MAY17, once a week.

WS1976 YYT1500 – 1830TPA 73W 5
WS1037 TPA0800 – 1401YYT 73W 5

Routesonline

WestJet starts new flights to Belize City from 29OCT16

WestJet announced today it will begin serving Belize City, Belize, non-stop from Toronto Pearson International Airport starting October 29, 2016. 

Starting August 1, 2016, WestJet also began year-round, non-stop service between Calgary and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. Both announcements come on the heels of WestJet’s recent winter schedule announcement of more than 85 new flights across its growing network.

“WestJet is proud to become the only Canadian carrier to fly non-stop to the Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport in Belize,” said Bob Cummings, WestJet Executive Vice-President, Commercial.

“The flight’s departure time will allow guests to connect seamlessly from many cities across Canada to a destination known for its large Canadian ex-pat community. WestJet continues to respond to the needs of the communities we serve by delivering more choice, competition and lower fares to Canadian travellers. The launch of service to Belize and our new, year-round service to JFK underlines our commitment to making air travel better in Canada.”

“With Canada being one of the strong source markets for tourist arrivals in Belize, we are extremely excited about this new direct route,” said Karen Bevans, Director of Tourism for Belize.

“We welcome WestJet’s first direct flight to Belize, which we guarantee will boost the demand for Canadian travel to our unique destination. Belize and Canada have shared strong ties for many years, so we anticipate that this direct flight from Toronto to Belize City will encourage even more Canadians to venture south to our beautiful jewel.”

Aviation Tribune

New Winter Destinations for WestJet

Canadian carrier WestJet announced its winter 2017 flight schedule, which includes new flights to its domestic and international networks.

Scheduled to start in late October, highlights from the airline’s winter schedule include additional domestic routes from its base in Toronto to Vancouver, Ottawa and Moncton.

Also, new international destinations out of Toronto will include Myrtle Beach in the United States, Aruba, Kingston in Jamaica, San Jose andLiberia in Costa Rica, Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago and St. Martin.

Besides the flights to Toronto, WestJet is set to add 41 new weekly flights from Vancouver to Kelowna and Prince George, B.C., Los Angeles, Honolulu and the Mexican cities of Cancun and Cabo San Lucas.

This winter, the airline will operate an average of 642 daily flights to 95 destinations including 36 in Canada, 25 in the United States and 34 inMexico, the Caribbean, Central America and Europe.

Combining summer and winter routes, this year WestJet will operate an average of 639 daily flights to 101 destinations including 38 in Canada, 27 in the United States and 36 in Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America andEurope.

Airways Magazine

Westjet B763 at London, wrong turn

A Westjet Boeing 767-300, registration C-FOGJ performing flight WS-23 from London Gatwick,EN (UK) to Vancouver,BC (Canada) with 268 people, was instructed to turn right to a heading of 090 after departure from runway 26L. However, the aircraft turned left, air traffic control issued vectors to avoid a traffic conflict. The aircraft continued to Vancouver for a safe landing.

The Canadian TSB rated the occurrence a reportable incident involving a risk of collision.

The Aviation Herald

Westjet B737 at St. John's on Jul 5th 2016, unclean flaps

A Westjet Boeing 737-700, registration C-GMWJ performing flight WS-16 from Toronto,ON to St. John's,NL (Canada) with 136 people on board, was on approach to St. John's when the crew received a trailing flaps disagree message upon selecting the flaps to 15 degrees. The crew initiated a missed approach, worked the related checklists and prepared for a flaps 15 landing. The aircraft landed safely on St. John's runway 11 about 20 minutes after the missed approach.

A replacement Boeing 737-700 registration C-GWCN performed the onward Transatlantik leg to Dublin (Ireland) departing St. John's about 8 hours after landing and about 6.5 hours past schedule.

The Canadian TSB reported maintenance determined the transmitter needed cleaning. The aircraft was ground checked and returned to service.

The occurrence aircraft departed St. John's about 9 hours after landing.

Incident: Westjet B737 at St. John's on Jul 5th 2016, unclean flaps

WestJet starts sending 767s to Hawaii – Aviation Gazette

   

WestJet (Calgary) today celebrates the airline’s first flight from Alberta to Hawaii on its own Boeing 767-300 extended-range aircraft. To this point, flights to the Hawaiian Islands had been taking place on leased aircraft.
WestJet took delivery of its first Boeing 767-300 on August 27, 2015 and has been flying the aircraft between Calgary and Toronto in order to obtain Extended-range Twin-engine Operation (ETOPS) certification. This certification allows the aircraft to be operated for extended distances over water and is required for WestJet’s service to Hawaii and to London Gatwick, which commences service in May 2016.
WestJet’s Boeing 767-300 service to Hawaii departs Edmonton on January 10 at 8:15 a.m. and arrives in Maui at 12:37 p.m.
The airline will operate two 767-300 aircraft from Calgary and Edmonton to Honolulu and Maui. Each aircraft seats 262 guests. The aircraft include a Plus cabin with 24 premium seats in a two-by-two configuration, hot meals and all of the other amenities associated with Plus. The main cabin has 238 seats, with two seats on either side of the aircraft and three in the middle. One of the 767s will be equipped with WestJet Connect, the airline’s new inflight entertainment and wireless connectivity system while the other will include tablets loaded with movies and popular televisions shows. By spring, both aircraft will be equipped with WestJet Connect.
WestJet’s seasonal service between Alberta and Hawaii began December 11, 2015, using two leased 767 aircraft from Omni Air International pending receipt of federal government certification for extended operation of WestJet’s 767s, which was received on December 30, 2015.

WestJet starts sending 767s to Hawaii – Aviation Gazette

WestJet Extends London Gatwick to Year-Round Service in 2016

Canadian carrier WestJet yesterday (06JAN16) announced service extension for London Gatwick, which will becoming a year-round destination, instead of summer-only. For flights on/after 30OCT16, Boeing 767 will be operating service from Calgary and Toronto, 3 and 7 weekly respectively. The airline will commence service to London Gatwick from May 2016.

The following is operational schedule for winter 2016/17 season, between 06NOV16 and 10MAR16.

Calgary – London Gatwick 3 weekly
WS001 YYC1755 – 0939+1LGW 76W 257
WS002 LGW1135 – 1400YYC 76W 136

Toronto – London Gatwick 1 daily
WS003 YYZ2110 – 0911+1LGW 76W D
WS004 LGW1110 – 1422YYZ 76W D

airlineroute.net

WestJet to wet-lease two Boeing 767s after ETOPS delay | ATW

Brian Sumers - ATW

WestJet Airlines will wet-lease two Boeing 767s from Omni Air International for one month beginning on Dec. 11 due to a delay in receiving its own ETOPS certification, an airline spokesman said.

The Calgary-based low-cost carrier is in the process of taking four used Boeing 767-300ERs, all of which once flew for Qantas, as part of a deal with Boeing Capital. When WestJet said earlier this year that it would fly between Alberta and Hawaii beginning in December, it expected those aircraft would be certified for overwater flights by the time the schedule started.

But on WestJet’s third-quarter earnings conference call Nov. 3, WestJet CEO Gregg Saretsky said Boeing chose a new U.S. maintenance facility that “struggled” with servicing WestJet’s first 767, which delayed the start date of domestic Canada flights needed for ETOPS certification. WestJet also found it did not have all the historical maintenance records it needed from Qantas, so it took some time to re-create them.

The first WestJet Boeing 767 had been scheduled to start flying domestic routes on Aug. 2, but it did not start flying within Canada until Oct. 22. WestJet spokesman Robert Palmer said he could not predict when the airline will secure ETOPS approval, but he said the wet-lease agreement with Omni will last only 30 days. “We are actively working with Transport Canada to obtain 180 min. ETOPS certification in respect of our 767 fleet, but determined that we needed to secure an alternate solution for fulfilling the first 30 days of this winter’s Alberta-Hawaii service,” he said.

WestJet has leased two aircraft: a Boeing 767-200 and a Boeing 767-300. They will fly from Calgary and Edmonton in Canada to Honolulu and Maui. WestJet told passengers service and seating will be similar to what the airline would offer on its own aircraft.

On the earnings call, Saretsky said WestJet might ask Boeing Capital to pay for costs associated with the delay. “The way our deal was struck with Boeing,” Saretsky told analysts, “any delay that causes incremental expense for us ought to be reimbursable by Boeing.” This week, Palmer said he did not have any further information on the matter.

The wet-lease agreement is not unusual for WestJet. It recently had a deal, which expired earlier this year, in which Thomas Cook Airlines operated its flights between Alberta and Hawaii using Boeing 757s. After using its own 767s to Hawaii this winter, WestJet plans to deploy them in the spring and summer from six Canadian cities, including Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto, to London Gatwick Airport.

WestJet to wet-lease two Boeing 767s after ETOPS delay | Leasing content from ATWOnline