WestJet is bringing back some of its Europe flights from Eastern Canada, including YYZ-DUB and YHZ-LGW. They're also instituting flights from Calgary to Iceland's KEF and from Newfoundland to Gatwick.
WestJet today announced an expansion of its European summer 2024 network. Propelled by its growing 737 MAX fleet, the airline reintroduced sought-after service connecting Eastern Canada and Europe and introduced new service from Calgary YYC to Reykjavik (Keflavik) KEF.
As WestJet continues to strengthen its presence in Western Canada, the airline is also enhancing its 787 Dreamliner hub, increasing frequencies for international routes and adding daily exclusive service to Japan.
"Today's announcement underscores our commitment to affordably connecting Canadians from coast-to-coast to some of the world's most popular destinations," said John Weatherill, WestJet Group Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer. "As we continue to expand upon our growth story, we are not only providing increased accessibility to Canadians but fostering crucial connectivity between communities and driving economic growth through inbound leisure and business travel."
The moves will be welcomed by the travel trade and by consumers in Eastern Canada.
Western Canada's gateway to Iceland
With four-times weekly service, beginning May 15, 2024, WestJet will be the only airline providing direct connectivity to Iceland from Calgary.
"In consultation with local partners, we agreed to announce our intention to begin service to Keflavik in May; we will continue to closely monitor volcanic activity in the region and follow the recommendations of local authorities," continued Weatherill.
| Route | Service startdate | Frequency | Departure time(local) | Arrival time(local) |
| Calgary –Reykjavik(Keflavik) | May 15 | 4x weekly | 7:55 p.m. | 8:25 a.m. |
| Reykjavik(Keflavik) -Calgary | May 16 | 4x weekly | 9:45 a.m. | 10:43 a.m |
WestJet's service to Reykjavik will be further enhanced by the airline's interline agreement with Icelandair, enabling guests to travel across Icelandair and WestJet's network via one boarding pass, with the convenience of a single check-in and baggage tagged and checked to their final destination.
Eastern Canada's tourism pipeline strengthened with seasonal return of European service
In keeping with its commitment to being Canada's leisure champion from coast-to-coast, WestJet is pleased to reconnect three major eastern Canadian cities to key European destinations this summer, with service from YYZ to DUB and EDI, YHZ to DUB, EDI and LGW, to Dublin and Edinburgh, Halifax to Dublin, Edinburgh, and London, and YYT to LGW.
YHZ-EDI is a new route for WestJet
Stimulating key leisure, business and cargo demand, WestJet's seasonal service to Europe this summer from Eastern Canada is reaffirmation of the airline's commitment to Eastern and Atlantic Canada's international air connectivity.
| Route | Service startdate | Peak frequency | Departure time(local) | Arrival time(local) | |
| Halifax –Dublin | June 19 | 4x weekly | 10:30 p.m. | 7:55 a.m. | |
| Dublin –Halifax | June 20 | 4x weekly | 9:30 a.m. | 11:32 a.m. | |
| Halifax –Edinburgh* | June 20 | 3x weekly | 10:40 p.m. | 8:04 a.m. | |
| Edinburgh –Halifax* | June 21 | 3x weekly | 9:30 a.m. | 11:38 a.m. | |
| Halifax –London(Gatwick) | April 28 | 4x weekly | 11:00 p.m. | 9:04 a.m. | |
| London(Gatwick) -Halifax | April 29 | 4x weekly | 11:00 a.m. | 1:46 p.m. | |
| Toronto -Dublin | March 1 | Daily | 9:45 p.m. | 9:39 a.m. | |
| Dublin -Toronto | March 2 | Daily | 11:00 a.m. | 1:54 p.m. | |
| Toronto –Edinburgh | May 14 | Daily | 10:15 p.m. | 10:05 a.m. | |
| Edinburgh -Toronto | May 15 | Daily | 11:25 a.m. | 1:59 p.m. | |
| St. John's –London(Gatwick) | May 1 | 3x weekly | 12:15 a.m. | 9:00 a.m. | |
| London(Gatwick) -St. John's | May 1 | 3x weekly | 11:00 a.m. | 1:15 p.m. | |
*New route not previously operated
BOOSTING CALGARY
Increased intercontinental frequencies bolster Calgary's position as a convenient two-way tourism gateway for Western Canada. With increased frequency between Calgary and Tokyo and six transatlantic destinations, WestJet is providing Western Canadian communities with more choice and access to their favourite international destinations this summer.
Following a highly successful introduction of non-stop service to Tokyo's Narita International Airport, the airline is responding to significant demand for the popular route and increasing service to daily this summer.
| Route | Service startdate | Frequency summer2024 | Previous frequencysummer 2023 |
| Calgary - Tokyo | April 3 | Daily | 3x weekly |
| Calgary - Rome | March 16 | 6x weekly | 5x weekly |
| Calgary – Barcelona | April 30 | 4x weekly | 3x weekly |
| Calgary - Edinburgh | May 12 | 4x weekly | 3x weekly |
| Calgary - Paris | Year-round | Daily | No change |
| Calgary – London(Heathrow) | Year-round | Daily | No change |
| Calgary - Dublin | April 29 | 5x weekly | No change |
"It's good news all around," said Robert Kokonis, an airline expert and president of Toronto-based AirTrav Inc."
Speaking by phone from Montreal, Kokonis told Open Jaw that he's not surprised by the WestJet announcement.
The Calgary-based airline has put less focus on YYZ-YUL and YYZ-LGA flights that Air Canada dominates, "but they never gave up on Eastern Canada."
"I think they had to get some of their Sunwing business out of the way first. I think they also want to show shareholders they can keep growing.
"But they never abandoned Eastern Canada. They want to focus on the leisure market, and flying between Halifax and both Dublin and Edinburgh is consistent with that."
Kokonis told Open Jaw that WS might be trying to keep low-cost European airlines out of YHZ.
"For sure, people in Nova Scotia and greater Halifax will be delighted to have WestJet flying those routes. Also, Air Canada had yet to introduce flights between St. John's and London, so WestJet kind of walked in under the cover of darkness and swooped in and grabbed St. John's to Gatwick."
In addition to announcing YYC-KEF in Iceland today, Kokonis noted WestJet recently announced flights from YEG to SFO, ATL and BNA (Nashville), as well as YVR-DTW.
