WestJet
Accepts Delivery of First New 737-600 Aircraft
August
9th, 2005
WestJet
, Canada's leading low-cost airline, took formal
delivery of its first new
Boeing Next-Generation 737-600 aircraft yesterday. In 2005, the airline
will accept delivery of a total of five 737-800s, seven 737-700s (four
of which have already been delivered) and three 737-600s.
Beginning
in March 2006, WestJet will operate a fleet comprised
exclusively of state-of-the-art Boeing Next-Generation
737 aircraft
equipped with more legroom, leather seats and live
seatback television
provided by Bell ExpressVu on its 700-series aircraft.
The airline
currently operates 46 Next-Generation aircraft in
its fleet of 55
aircraft. Westjet
currently has 10 737-200 aircraft
remaining in its
fleet, all of which will be replaced by Next-Generation
737 aircraft by
March 2006.
The
737-600, which has a seating capacity of 119, will
allow WestJet to
add limited capacity on newer routes and between
smaller centres. The
737-800 has 166 seats, the 737-700 has 136 seats
and the 737-200 has 125
seats.
Tim
Morgan, WestJet's Executive Vice-President of Operations,
said "
We are very pleased to be extending our family of
Boeing 737
aircraft. Our airline will be able to better serve
numerous markets of
varying distance with seasonal fluctuations in demand
by adding the
Boeing Next-Generation 737-600 model to our current
fleet. The increased
fuel efficiency and guest comforts offered by the
new 600 series
aircraft will also help Westjet
continue to be travellers'
first choice
for affordable and friendly travel.
WestJet's Next-Generation aircraft
are 30% more fuel efficient on an
available seat mile basis, while offering guests
greater legroom, a
quieter ride and leather seats.
WestJet is
Canada's leading low-cost airline offering scheduled
service
throughout its 34-city North American network. Named
Canada's most
respected corporation for customer service in 2005,
WestJet pioneered
low-cost high-value flying in Canada. With increased
legroom and leather
seats on its modern fleet of Boeing Next-Generation
737 aircraft, and
live seatback television on its 737-700 fleet, WestJet
strives to be the
number one choice for travellers. Visit www.westjet.com
for more information.
Source:
http://www2.ccnmatthews.com
