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WestJet captain raises concerns over long Seattle taxi time after burning 800 pounds of fuel on the ground
airlive • • business
Key Points:
- WestJet flight WS1553 from Seattle to Calgary experienced a three-hour delay and burned approximately 800 pounds of jet fuel during a 32-minute taxi on October 8, 2026, at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
- The captain noted that such extended taxi delays are common at SEA and had requested extra fuel before departure to avoid having to return to the gate for refueling due to the unexpected fuel burn.
- The incident highlights ongoing challenges with ground congestion at major airports, impacting airline efficiency, fuel management, and environmental goals.
- Flight WS1553 eventually departed from runway 16L at 1:35 PM local time and continued safely to Calgary.
- This situation underscores the importance of proactive fuel planning by flight crews to mitigate operational risks associated with long taxi times.
