WestJet Phases Out 27 737‑700s, Keeps 17 Amid MAX 10 Delay

WestJet has begun the first wave of retiring its 27 Boeing 737‑700 Next Generation aircraft, selling them to New York‑based FTAI Aviation in a sale‑and‑leaseback deal. The airline will continue to operate 17 of the 737‑700s while awaiting the arrival of the newer 737 MAX 10, which has been delayed. The move is a stopgap measure that turns older planes into cash as WestJet faces a 25 % drop in transborder traffic to the United States and a rollback of its planned fleet renewal. By leasing the aircraft back, WestJet preserves operational flexibility and mitigates the impact of the delayed MAX 10 on its network and financial planning.