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A WestJet captain reported burning 800 pounds of fuel during a 32-minute taxi at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The pilot described the delays as 'pretty classic' and noted that extra fuel was added to avoid a gate return.
A WestJet pilot expressed frustration with ground operations at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) after a flight to Calgary burned approximately 800 pounds of jet fuel while taxiing. The incident occurred on Thursday, October 8, 2026, involving WestJet flight WS1553, a Boeing 737-800 registered as C-FWIJ.
According to airlive.net, the flight was already running three hours behind schedule when it pushed back from gate S5 in Seattle’s South Satellite. After departure from the gate, the aircraft spent 32 minutes navigating congested taxiways before reaching runway 16L. The captain formally notified airline dispatch that the aircraft had burned 800 pounds (approx. 360 kg) of fuel while idling and maneuvering on the ground.
The pilot acknowledged that half-hour taxi delays have become “pretty classic” for Seattle-Tacoma International. The flight eventually took off from runway 16L at 1:35 PM local time. Simple Flying reported that the scheduled departure time was 10:30 AM local time, with the aircraft pushing back at 1:03 PM. The flight arrived in Calgary at 4:02 PM.
The extended ground time highlighted operational risks associated with fuel management. The flight crew noted that the captain proactively requested extra fuel than the standard planned quantity prior to departure. According to airlive.net, if this precaution had not been taken, the excessive burn during taxiing would have forced the Boeing 737 to return to the gate to refuel to satisfy legal minimum takeoff fuel requirements.
TheTravel reported that the captain’s decision to add extra fuel avoided a potential gate return, which would have added further delay time. The flight landed safely in Calgary despite the disruptions.
The incident occurred during a period of significant delays at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. TheTravel reported that October 8 saw 370 delays at the hub, compared to 290 on October 9 and 137 on October 10. The airport serves as a key hub for flights to Canadian destinations, with WestJet and Alaska Airlines operating the Seattle-Calgary route.
Simple Flying noted that the Seattle-Calgary route is contested between WestJet and Alaska Airlines. The incident underscores the pressure ground congestion places on airline operational efficiency and fuel management. While the captain’s comments drew attention to the issue, the flight completed its journey without further incident.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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