WestJet Secures 13 Boeing 737-10 Jets Through Lease Agreement with Aviation Capital Group
Canadian carrier WestJet and global aircraft lessor Aviation Capital Group (ACG) have finalized a long-term lease agreement for 13 Boeing 737-10 aircraft. This transaction accelerates the Canadian airline’s fleet renewal plans and crucially expands its operational capacity across both domestic routes and international markets.
This agreement builds on milestones achieved in February 2026, when ACG successfully completed the delivery of two Boeing 737-8 aircraft to the airline.
Global Debut Milestone of the Boeing 737-10
One of the most competitive aspects of this agreement is that ACG plans to deliver the world’s first Boeing 737-10 from its direct order book to WestJet immediately after the US manufacturer secures type certification for the variant.
Beyond the units managed through leasing companies, WestJet maintains a strong direct commitment with the US manufacturer to bolster its future growth:
- 60 additional firm orders scheduled directly with Boeing for the 737 MAX 10 model.
- 25 active purchase options, providing the airline with the operational flexibility to adapt to regional demand over the next decade.
The integration of this model, which represents the largest and highest-capacity variant of the Boeing 737 family, will provide the airline with the necessary incremental capacity to scale its domestic operations within Canada and launch new frequencies across its international network.
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Technical Benefits and Operational Efficiency
By standardizing and expanding its single-aisle fleet with the 737-10 variant, WestJet will capitalize on direct financial and logistical advantages:
- Operational commonality: Reduced costs in technical training and crew instruction due to system commonality with the Boeing family models already operated by the airline.
- Sustainability and emissions reduction: Lower carbon emissions volume and a reduced noise footprint at urban airports.
- Fuel efficiency: Optimized average fuel burn per available seat.
- Optimized cost per seat: By utilizing a higher-density cabin configuration, the airline drastically reduces its unit operating cost per passenger, strengthening its commercial flexibility against regional competitors.
ACG and WestJet Partnerships
“We are delighted to expand our relationship with WestJet through this placement. ACG and WestJet share a strong commitment to the Boeing 737-10, with more than 140 aircraft of this type on order between our two firms. This positions ACG as the leading lessor for this model and WestJet as one of its most significant airline operators globally.”
— Thomas Baker, CEO and President of ACG.
For its part, WestJet Group’s leadership team emphasized the corporate flexibility that these types of transactions bring to the balance sheet in a context of dynamic passenger demand:
“This long-term lease agreement for 13 Boeing aircraft with Aviation Capital Group directly supports WestJet’s growth plans and provides us with the necessary flexibility as we scale to meet our guests’ demand. Shifting deliveries toward the 737-10 is a key strategic step to ensure we have the ideal aircraft in our fleet to reliably serve our passengers over the long term.”
— Mike Scott, CFO and Executive Vice President of WestJet Group.
This agreement highlights the importance of the aircraft leasing market as a flexible and rapid financing mechanism for network carriers that need to adjust fleet capacity to meet high demand without immediately incurring massive capital expenditures. The early commercial introduction of the 737-10 into WestJet’s fleet will position it strategically against traditional and hybrid operators in the North American region, ensuring a balance of costs and sustainability for years to come.
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