WestJet plans to lease a 73,110-square-foot aircraft maintenance hangar being built at the Winnipeg Richardson International Airport under a planned 25-year lease within the newly unveiled AirLink Business Park; the facility is expected to open in late 2028 and support hundreds of construction and aviation jobs.
Funding Fuels New Hangar Project
- Infrastructure Expansion: The 73,110-square-foot facility will accommodate up to six smaller aircraft or two large narrow-body planes, such as the Boeing 737-10 Max.
- Job Creation: The project will support hundreds of jobs, including approximately 50 new aircraft maintenance engineer positions based in Winnipeg.
- Capital Investment: The first phase of the AirLink Business Park is backed by $17 million from the Winnipeg Airports Authority, $10 million from the federal government and $5 million from Manitoba, while the city and province have spent a combined $73 million on water and sewer infrastructure.
Winnipeg Airports Authority Unveils AirLink Business Park First Announced Tenant
The Calgary-based airline confirmed its commitment to the West Lands development on Wednesday, following initial expressions of interest revealed in January. According to Yahoo News Canada, WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech stated at a news conference at the Richardson International Airport that Winnipeg remains a critical market where the carrier flies more than two million passengers annually. While the formal agreement has not yet been executed and still requires board approval, the intended 25-year lease would give WestJet the infrastructure to base and maintain aircraft in Winnipeg for the first time.
Currently, WestJet employs more than 500 people in Winnipeg and, in 2026, is operating over 17,000 flights connecting the city to 35 North American destinations. However, the airline maintains only 12 aircraft maintenance engineers in the city, with all maintenance currently performed outdoors on the tarmac. The new hangar aims to resolve this operational bottleneck; the space could see up to 42 Winnipeg-based airplanes, according to reporting by the Winnipeg Free Press.
New Hangar Opens in Late 2028
Opening in late 2028, the hangar is planned for the Winnipeg Airports Authority’s 211-acre AirLink Business Park. Infrastructure financing for the commercial development includes a $17 million contribution from the Winnipeg Airports Authority, $10 million from the federal government, and $5 million from Manitoba. The city and province have expended a combined $73 million to extend regional water mains and sewers into the industrial and residential lands west of the airport.
| Project Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Hangar Size | 73,110 square feet |
| Lease Term | 25 years |
| Target Opening | Late 2028 |
| Projected Engineering Hires | ~50 Aircraft Maintenance Engineers |
| Winnipeg Flights in 2026 | 17,000+ across 35 destinations |
Winnipeg West MP Doug Eyolfson has previously said the AirLink development will generate $940 million in gross domestic product activity during construction and $270 million in recurring annual GDP activity once fully operational.
Winnipeg Base Yields Fleet Flexibility
Basing aircraft directly in Winnipeg affords WestJet the fleet flexibility required to introduce new routes. Von Hoensbroech said the carrier already has a couple of ideas that would improve connectivity for Winnipeg, but he was not ready to announce anything.
The facility is designed to accommodate the Boeing 737-10 Max, which von Hoensbroech described as the largest of its kind within the 737 family. The hangar can shelter two such large airframes at a time and can hold between four and six smaller aircraft. For the first time, the facility will give WestJet the infrastructure to base and maintain aircraft in Winnipeg, which von Hoensbroech called a platform for future growth.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
