WestJet Adding 2023 Flights From Calgary to Tokyo, Barcelona and Edinburgh

WestJet today announced its 2023 summer 787 Dreamliner routes from YYC Calgary International Airport, unveiling Tokyo, Japan, as its first destination in Asia with new service to Narita International Airport. The airline is also creating greater two-way tourism opportunities and increasing connectivity between Western Canada and Europe with new service between Calgary and Barcelona, Spain and Edinburgh, Scotland along with increased frequencies on existing European routes.

Today’s announcement comes as WestJet prepares for broader expansion within Canada and North America over the coming months. Open Jaw reports that flights from Toronto to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dublin, Barcelona and London Gatwick will not be served next summer. Also cancelled are Halifax to Dublin, Glasgow, London Gatwick and Paris Charles de Gaulle.

Positioned perfectly to connect Western Canada to the world, WestJet’s 787 flying from Calgary will see the airline take flight to eight transoceanic destinations in 2023. With 40 weekly departures strategically scheduled to maximize connecting capacity across 24 Western Canadian communities, the airline will offer more competitive options for its leisure and business guests and cargo customers as it fulfills its new strategic direction.

WestJet earlier this year said it was pulling back on flights in eastern Canada and focusing on its Calgary hub and the west. The website simpleflying.com today states that WestJet will no longer fly Toronto to Glasgow or Toronto to Dublin. The site also said that, “while Halifax to Dublin, Glasgow, London Gatwick, and Paris CDG, along with Toronto to Barcelona and London Gatwick ran in summer 2022, they won’t return next year.”

“This is an exciting day for the WestJet Group, our guests, and partners as we deliver on our new strategy and demonstrate our western focus as we increase our Calgary capacity by more than 25 per cent in 2023. Starting with the expansion of our intercontinental routes, future announcements will focus on domestic and North American additions that will bring even more affordable travel options to our guests in the new year,” said Alexis von Hoensbroech, WestJet Group Chief Executive Officer. “With Calgary as home base to our 787 aircraft, access between western Canadian communities and these intercontinental destinations will play a vital role in creating an economically prosperous aviation pipeline that better connects Canadians to the world and the world to Western Canada.”

Tokyo, Japan – Alberta’s Only Non-Stop Gateway to Asia
With its expansive modern architecture, traditional roots, established ties to Alberta’s tourism and business economies and connectivity to more than 50 destinations across the continent, Tokyo is a natural choice for WestJet’s first destination in Asia. With three-time weekly seasonal service beginning, April 30, 2023, WestJet will be the only airline providing transpacific service to Asia direct from Alberta.

In another sign that the Asia travel market might be picking up, Air Canada last week launched its first-ever flight between Vancouver and Bangkok, Thailand. It’s the only direct flight between Thailand and Nort America.

WestJet said it will bolster its European presence between Calgary and six transatlantic destinations this summer by adding increased frequency on existing popular European routes and welcoming new non-stop service to Edinburgh, Scotland and Barcelona, Spain.

WestJet’s service from Calgary to both Barcelona and Edinburgh will operate seasonally from May to October, up to three-times weekly. With the addition of its newest routes, WestJet will offer service to six European cities, increasing capacity by 95 per cent with flights to London Heathrow and Gatwick, Paris, Rome and Dublin.