WestJet breaks ground on hangar to accommodate new Dreamliner 787 widebody jet

WestJet Airlines Ltd. is gearing up for delivery of its first Boeing Dreamliner 787 by breaking ground on a new $50-million hangar at the Calgary International Airport.

The company announced in April it had placed a firm order for 10 of the widebody jets which will allow it to serve new destinations in Asia, South America and Europe with higher-end offerings like lie-flat seating.

The new hangar will occupy 125,000 square feet and stand eight storeystall, with two floors of office space.

WestJet says only one Dreamliner at a time will fit into the hangar, although it will be big enough to hold four Boeing 737s.

WestJet's Dreamliners are to be delivered between 2019 and 2021 and it has the option of buying another 10 between 2020 and 2024.

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