CALGARY — WestJet is sporting new wings these days after becoming the first Canadian airline to receive the Boeing 737 MAX, one of 50 scheduled for delivery in the next four years.

The single-cabin, 174-seat aircraft, which has been at WestJet’s Calgary hangar since Sept. 29 for inspections and test flights, will officially enter service on Nov. 9, 2017 when it operates from Calgary to Toronto.

Designed for fuel efficiency and noise reduction, the aircraft is 14% more fuel-efficient than current 737 Next-Generations and have a reduced operational noise footprint of up to 40% through quiet-engine technology. Its seating configuration consists of three rows of Plus, in addition to 11 more rows with a seat pitch of 34 inches. Furthermore, it comes with Boeing’s new Sky Interior, which includes customizable LED lighting and new speakers.

In addition to the new aircraft, WestJet has also announced that it will begin operating daily, year-round service from Nanaimo Airport and Comox Valley Airport to Vancouver International Airport on WestJet Encore.

These new routes provide convenient connections to Oahu, Maui, Island of Hawaii, Kauai, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Kelowna, Prince George, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Toronto in addition to the direct access that the Vancouver International Airport offers to greater Vancouver area businesses.

“WestJet is looking forward to providing Nanaimo and Comox with improved connectivity into the broader WestJet network,” said Brian Znotins, WestJet Vice-President, Network Planning, Alliances and Corporate Development. “In addition, WestJet Encore’s Bombardier Q400s offer an affordable, quick and comfortable option for leisure and business travellers looking to hop back and forth between the island communities and British Columbia’s largest business centre and airport.”

This winter, WestJet has a total of 505 weekly flights out of Vancouver, 21 weekly flights out of Nanaimo and 36 weekly flights out of Comox, including a weekly flight to Puerto Vallarta.