Canada’s WestJet inks cargo partnership with GTA Group

WestJet (WS, Calgary) has signed a partnership with cargo specialist GTA Group to deploy four 737-800 freighters on overnight cargo routes out of Toronto Pearson.

“This partnership is building on proven success between WestJet Cargo and the GTA Group. WestJet Cargo will bring customers new competitive options, and together with GTA we will disrupt the industry, providing more air freight capacity to domestic cargo customers who depend on reliable and on-time performance,” Executive Vice-President (Cargo) Charles Duncan said.

The Canadian carrier is in the process of adding its first B737-800(BCF) in the form of C-FAWJ (msn 35502). The aircraft operated for WestJet as a passenger unit through early January 2022 and was ferried to San José Juan Santamaría for conversion at Coopesa’s facility on February 23, 2022, Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows. The airline previously said that its first dedicated freighter would debut in the second quarter of 2022 and disclosed plans to add more such aircraft going forward, but did not outline a specific number.

Besides the four B737-800 freighters, WestJet will continue to carry GTA Group’s cargo in the bellyholds of its passenger aircraft. The two companies did not disclose the schedule for the launch and growth of the partnership to all four aircraft.

GTA Group currently does not charter any aircraft.

The only other operator of B737NG dedicated freighters in Canada at present is Chrono Jet (MBK, Québec), which operates a single B737-800(SF), the ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows.