WestJet has grounded 10 percent of its total fleet after the aircraft were damaged in a vicious hailstorm at its global hub in Calgary earlier this week.
The airline said 16 of its aircraft suffered “significant hail damage” in the storm and require “substantial repairs and inspections before returning to service.”
“As an airline that is proud to call Calgary our home, the extreme weather events that occurred on Monday evening had a disproportionate impact on our people, who experienced damage to their homes and vehicles; our fleet, and our partners at YYC Calgary International Airport” said Diederik Pen, president of WestJet and group chief operating officer.
“The severity and direction of the actual thunderstorm and hail became clear less than 30 minutes before impact, and we are extremely appreciative of our people who took quick action, prioritizing safety above all while limiting damage to our fleet and operation, wherever possible.”
Two additional aircraft have been cleared with minor damage, and four were moved into a hangar for protection during the storm, the airline said. Nine aircraft were diverted from Calgary.
West said it had cancelled nearly 250 flights as of late Wednesday morning because of the damage and the decreased capacity in its network.
“All of us at WestJet are incredibly disappointed to be disrupting the travel plans of our valued guests again this summer, and greatly appreciate your patience and understanding over the coming days as we weather the impact following this significant storm,” said Pen.
“As always, I am grateful that our people prioritized the safety of our guests and themselves and continue to do so as we work diligently to restore our aircraft and operation,” continued Pen.
