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Cargojet freighter aircraft knocked out of service by massive hail

WestJet temporarily loses 10% of fleet, cancels flights

Cargojet has sidelined two freighters, including a Boeing 757 like this one, to fix components damaged by large hail last week. (Photo: Shutterstock/Welshboy 2020)

Two Cargojet freighter aircraft suffered extensive damage during a hailstorm last week at Calgary International Airport in Canada, executives said during a call with analysts Wednesday to discuss second-quarter earnings.

The Aug. 5 storm that pounded the airport in Alberta with golf ball-size ice pellets also crippled 16 aircraft operated by WestJet, Canada’s second-largest passenger airline.

Cargojet (TSX: CJT) moved the two planes to its base in Hamilton, Ontario, for repairs, according to the company. One plane is a Boeing 767 supplied by Amazon for which Cargojet provides crews, maintenance and insurance to operate on Amazon’s behalf in Canada. The other plane is a smaller Boeing 757 owned by Cargojet.

Management said it expects the 757 freighter to return to service fairly quickly.  The 767 will take another week or more to complete repairs, but the airline is using backup aircraft to make sure Amazon can serve customers on time.


The damaged WestJet aircraft, which require extensive inspection and repairs, represent about 10% of the airline’s fleet. The company on Wednesday announced it will cancel flights on a proactive basis for the foreseeable future while it endeavors to return all impacted aircraft to service. It has called off hundreds of flights so far and is currently canceling 50 flights per day. A comprehensive assessment of the damage determined that sourcing specialized equipment and materials, and completing repairs will take several weeks.

In addition to cosmetic damage, hail can harm radomes that protect the radar antenna and are sandwiched between the internal and external skin. Large hail can also dent the surface, which can affect flight characteristics, according to aviation experts. WestJet and CEO Alex Hochberg have posted pictures showing a plane’s wing spoilers pockmarked with dents.

WestJet said it is actively pursuing every avenue to reduce cancellations, including adding additional flights operated by WestJet Encore and partner Canadian North. It also has engaged Boeing and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, the union representing WestJet Aircraft Maintenance Engineers, to secure additional resourcing and expedite aircraft repairs.

WestJet said it takes 12 maintenance technicians to inspect and repair each aircraft.


Two weeks before the hailstorm, WestJet was significantly impacted by the IT outage caused when CrowdStrike released a defective update to its security software for Windows systems.

Two Flair Airlines jets were also knocked out of service for several weeks. 

Calgary airport, WestJet’s hub, suffered extensive water damage to part of its domestic terminal building when hail damaged the roof, according to the airport authority. 

E-commerce, Amazon demand drive Cargojet volume growth

Eric Kulisch

Eric is the Supply Chain and Air Cargo Editor at FreightWaves. An award-winning business journalist with extensive experience covering the logistics sector, Eric spent nearly two years as the Washington, D.C., correspondent for Automotive News, where he focused on regulatory and policy issues surrounding autonomous vehicles, mobility, fuel economy and safety. He has won two regional Gold Medals and a Silver Medal from the American Society of Business Publication Editors for government and trade coverage, and news analysis. He was voted best for feature writing and commentary in the Trade/Newsletter category by the D.C. Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He won Environmental Journalist of the Year from the Seahorse Freight Association in 2014 and was the group's 2013 Supply Chain Journalist of the Year. In December 2022, Eric was voted runner up for Air Cargo Journalist by the Seahorse Freight Association. As associate editor at American Shipper Magazine for more than a decade, he wrote about trade, freight transportation and supply chains. He has appeared on Marketplace, ABC News and National Public Radio to talk about logistics issues in the news. Eric is based in Vancouver, Washington. He can be reached for comments and tips at ekulisch@freightwaves.com