WestJet orders 67 Boeing jets to power long-term growth

Published on Sep 4, 2025, 8:12 am CDT

4 min read

WestJet has placed a record order for 67 Boeing aircraft, adding 60 737-10s and seven 787-9 Dreamliners, as the Calgary-based carrier accelerates domestic and international expansion. The firm deal lifts WestJet's order book to 123 aircraft, with options for 29 more, and extends planned deliveries through 2034. The airline says the jets will cut fuel burn and support affordable fares.

Key Points

Why it matters: Largest WestJet order ever, securing growth through 2034.
Travel impact: More single-aisle capacity and long-haul range on fuel-efficient types.
What's next: 737-10 certification is targeted for 2026, shaping delivery timing.
Order lifts firm backlog to 123 aircraft, plus 29 options.
Dreamliner fleet will double from seven to fourteen.

Snapshot

Announced on September 3, 2025, the deal cements a three-decade Boeing partnership and builds commonality across WestJet's narrow-body fleet. The 737-10 brings the lowest cost per seat in Boeing's single-aisle family, while the 787-9 extends range for transatlantic and potential transpacific growth. WestJet notes its fleet averages roughly 10 years in age, among the youngest of established North American carriers. Deliveries under this order run into the next decade, giving planners predictable capacity adds to match network growth and retire older jets on a rolling schedule.

Background

WestJet started flying in 1996 with three Boeing 737s and now operates nearly 150 of the type, alongside seven 787-9 Dreamliners on long-haul routes. The airline has leaned into Boeing for scale, cost, and training efficiency, while using Dreamliners to connect Canada with Europe, parts of Latin America, and select seasonal markets. The new order continues that single-manufacturer strategy, simplifying pilot pools and maintenance while improving fuel efficiency and emissions performance compared with earlier-generation aircraft. For prior operational context, see our coverage of the August system outage recovery in WestJet Ground Stop Lifted After Outage, Delays Continue.

Latest Developments

WestJet orders 67 Boeing jets to scale narrow-body and wide-body fleets

The airline's purchase includes 60 Boeing 737-10s, with options for 25 more, and seven Boeing 787-9s, with options for four. Boeing and WestJet said the order, previously listed as an unidentified customer in June data, is WestJet's largest to date and will double its Dreamliner count. Deliveries stretch through 2034, providing a steady pipeline to expand frequencies, open new city pairs, and up-gauge dense domestic routes. WestJet's CEO said the aircraft are central to growth plans and will enhance affordability for travelers.

Certification path shapes 737-10 timeline

While WestJet's 737-10 commitment is substantial, entry-into-service depends on Boeing completing certification, which industry reporting now pegs for 2026 following an engine anti-ice system redesign. The schedule informs capacity planning and could bunch early deliveries toward mid-decade. Boeing maintains that the MAX family offers about 20 percent lower fuel use versus prior generations, a key lever for fares and network economics. We will watch certification milestones that influence when the first 737-10s join WestJet.

Analysis

Strategically, this is a fleet-planning playbook built on commonality. Concentrating narrow-body growth on the 737-10 lowers training and spares complexity, and the stretched fuselage drives the lowest unit costs in Boeing's single-aisle family. That helps WestJet defend share on Canada's busiest domestic corridors while adding seats where airport slots are scarce. On long-haul, doubling the 787-9 fleet gives WestJet a credible platform to deepen Europe and reopen or test Asia once demand and economics align. The measured delivery stream through 2034 creates flexibility to time retirements and match capacity with seasonality.

Risks do remain. The 737-10 certification timing is outside WestJet's direct control, and broader supply-chain pressures could still affect monthly deliveries. We have been tracking those headwinds, including parts bottlenecks and labor dynamics, in our reporting such as Aircraft Shortages Through 2026: Airbus 62 jets, Boeing 47 Deliveries in July. Even so, locking in slots now is prudent given global backlogs. If certification lands as expected in 2026 and 787 deliveries remain stable, WestJet will be positioned to expand transatlantic flying, restore suspended routes, and selectively add long-thin markets that suit the Dreamliner's economics.

Final Thoughts

WestJet's record purchase secures growth, simplifies operations, and extends long-haul reach, with the 737-10 and 787-9 pairing to drive efficiency and range. The delivery horizon into 2034 balances ambition with realism amid a constrained production environment. Execution will hinge on Boeing's certification and supply chain stability, but the strategic logic is sound. For travelers, more seats and longer routes should follow as aircraft arrive, reinforcing competition and choice across Canada and beyond, anchored by the WestJet orders 67 Boeing jets primary keyword.