Skip to Content News Archives Economy Energy Oil & Gas Renewables Electric Vehicles Mining Commodities Agriculture Real Estate Mortgages Mortgage Rates Finance Banking Insurance Fintech Cryptocurrency Work Wealth Smart Money Wealth Management Investor Personal Finance Family Finance Retirement Taxes High Net Worth FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials More Innovation Information Technology FP500 Podcasts Small Business Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Financial Post Store Obituaries Place a Notice Advertising Advertising With Us Advertising Solutions Postmedia Ad Manager Sponsorship Requests Classifieds Place a Classifieds ad Working Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ News Economy Energy Mining Real Estate Finance Work Wealth Investor FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials HomeAirlinesInside WestJet’s Calgary maintenance hubWatch: Alexis von Hoensbroech gives an exclusive look behind the scenes of what it takes to keep a fleet of planes flying You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.WestJet chief executive Alexis von Hoensbroech. Photo by Courtesy/WestJet Airlines LTDKeeping a fleet of passenger aircraft in service is no easy feat. For Calgary based WestJet, that means hangars, technical crews, spare engines and a growing network of suppliers close to its home base.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorWestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech took the Financial Post inside one of the airline’s maintenance hangars at YYC Calgary International Airport recently, showing a side that passengers rarely see: the overnight work that keeps aircraft moving, the Q400 turboprops used to serve smaller communities across Western Canada, and the Boeing 787 Dreamliners that fly long haul routes to Europe and Asia.Von Hoensbroech said WestJet’s 737s and Dash 8-400 aircraft usually fly during the day and are maintained at night, while wide body aircraft like the 787 often do the opposite, flying overnight and spending time in the hangar during the day.Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againHe credited the province of Alberta with helping to support that ecosystem by attracting aviation suppliers to Calgary. One example is the Lufthansa Technik engine facility, which allows WestJet to avoid the time and cost of shipping an engine to Europe or Asia for maintenance and instead have the work done nearby.That’s especially important with modern aircraft engines. Von Hoensbroech said one spare GEnx engine used on a 787s has a list price of about US$30 million. A huge expense, but critical in order to keep their planes flying on time when maintenance calls. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.