WestJet 737 Burns 800 Pounds of Fuel Taxiing in Seattle

A WestJet Boeing 737-800 burned approximately 800 pounds (362 kilograms) of fuel while taxiing to the runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on October 8, 2026. Flight 1553, bound for Calgary International Airport, departed more than three hours behind schedule and spent 32 minutes navigating congested taxiways before takeoff.

According to aviation news outlet Airlive, the incident highlighted persistent ground congestion at the Washington state airport and the operational challenges it creates for airlines. The additional fuel consumption occurred before the aircraft began its flight to Alberta.

WestJet's captain reportedly described half-hour taxi delays at Seattle as a recurring occurrence. The airline had arranged for additional fuel beyond the standard planned quantity to account for the possibility of prolonged ground movements and avoid complications with minimum takeoff fuel requirements.

The additional fuel was a precaution against extended taxiing that could otherwise force an aircraft to return to the gate if its remaining fuel fell below the required minimum for departure.

Flight-tracking information cited by Simple Flying showed that WS1553 was scheduled to leave Seattle at 10:30 a.m. local time on October 8. However, the aircraft did not push back from the gate until 1:03 p.m.

After taxiing for more than 30 minutes, the Boeing 737-800 reached Runway 16L and took off at 1:35 p.m. The flight to Calgary took one hour and 59 minutes, with the aircraft arriving at 4:02 p.m. local time, according to the published flight-tracking details.

WestJet operates the scheduled daily service between Seattle and Calgary, competing on the route with Seattle-based Alaska Airlines. The prolonged delay affected the flight's departure schedule and increased fuel consumption before the aircraft became airborne.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport also serves several other Canadian destinations through multiple airlines. According to the source report, Air Canada and WestJet are the largest Canadian carriers operating from Seattle, alongside Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines.

Calgary is served by Alaska Airlines, WestJet, and WestJet Encore. Alaska Airlines also operates services to Edmonton, Kelowna, Toronto, Vancouver, and Victoria, while WestJet Encore serves Kelowna seasonally.

Air Canada operates flights to Toronto and Vancouver, with Air Canada Express serving Vancouver. Delta Connection also serves Vancouver, while Air Canada is scheduled to resume seasonal service to Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport on May 1, 2027.

Vancouver is Seattle's busiest Canadian destination by passenger volume. Data from The Frequent Flyer cited in the report showed that more than 624,000 passengers traveled between Seattle and Vancouver from July 2025 through June 2026.

The Seattle-Vancouver route ranked third among the airport's international routes during that period, behind Taipei, which recorded 778,000 passengers, and Seoul, with 631,000. The figures illustrate the scale of international traffic moving through Seattle alongside the operational demands faced by airlines using its taxiways and runways.