WestJet Cargo halves freighter operations

Canadian carrier WestJet Cargo has parked two of its four leased 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters (BCF) in response to tough market conditions, despite launching last year with ambitious plans for expansion.

In a statement to Air Cargo News, WestJet said that it had decided to limit operations to just two 737-800BCFs early this year, but added it had no plans to further reduce the fleet.

“We can confirm that in 2023, WestJet Cargo was utilizing four Boeing Converted Freighters (BCFs) as well as 160 wide belly cargo holds that exist within our passenger aircraft fleet,” said WestJet.

“In early 2024 a strategic decision was made to limit cargo operations to two of the four converted freighters due to market conditions. No further cutbacks are planned at this time, and efforts have been made to fully utilize the two BCFs currently in service.”

WestJet did not elaborate on where the two active 737-800BCFs are currently operating and what the plans are for the two remaining 737-800BCFs, but data from Planespotters shows one (C-FAWJ) of the two aircraft not in use is parked at Munro Hamilton International Airport (YHM) in Ontario, while the other (C-GWJE) is parked at Windsor International Airport (YQG), also in Ontario.

Flight tracking website Flightradar24 shows that the active freighters (C-FJWS and C-FTWJ) have recently been flying between Toronto (YYZ), Newark Liberty in New Jersey (EWR) and Wade International in Bermuda (BDA).

The airline’s decision to cut down its freighter operations, first reported by FreightWaves, follows an apparent focus on belly capacity over freighter operations this year, despite the airline’s original plans to build its freighter network.

WestJet Cargo launched its first-ever freighter service in April 2023. This followed the certification of its 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters (BCF) the previous month.

Speaking to ACN just before the launch of WestJet’s freighter services, WestJet executive vice president for cargo, Kirsten de Bruijn had said the network would encompass Calgary, Halifax, Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles and Miami. However, she noted that the carrier hoped to expand flights into Latin America.

In September 2023, WestJet Cargo launched a new cargo route to Havana, Cuba, the carrier’s first venture into the Cuban capital.

WestJet Cargo also expanded its global reach through partnerships. In November, it partnered with supply chain logistics platform Flexport to widen the reach of Canadian airfreight exports into Asia.

Then in December, the airline grew its product offering with its ‘Safe Air’ service covering the high-value cargo segment.

As a consequence of its decision to scale back cargo operations, WestJet Cargo has not launched any new freighter destinations this year. Instead, it has focused on offering additional belly capacity through its passenger network.

“The last two months have been the best in WestJet Cargo’s history, with our strongest performance being on routes currently served by the cargo bellies in our passenger fleet,” noted WestJet.

The airline has also invested in digitalisation to enhance its cargo business this year. Its most recent investment was in June when it placed its capacity on third-party booking portal cargo.one.

2023 was a tough year for the global air cargo market with economic inflation, lower demand and increased capacity. IATA figures show that air cargo tonne kms (CTK) for December were up 10.8% year, but CTKs for the whole year were down 1.7% on 2022 levels and 3.6% behind 2019.

WestJet eyes Latin America as freighter services set for takeoff