WestJet announced its landing at London Heathrow (LHR) with flights from Calgary (YYC) beginning in early spring 2022. Canada’s second-largest airline continues to grow its international network by catering to the recovery of leisure and corporate travel.
London is the main European destination from Calgary (YYC). Data obtained by Aviacionline through the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) indicates that 179,185 passengers were flown to Alberta’s main city from Gatwick (LGW) and 259,720 from Heathrow (LHR) in 2019. WestJet will now compete against British Airways and Air Canada at the British capital’s main airport.
«As the airline with the most flights from Alberta, this is an important recovery milestone as we build new connectivity between Canada and one of the world’s most sought-after global hubs,» said John Weathrill, WestJet’s Chief Commercial Officer.
«We continue to strengthen our network, offering more options for business and leisure travelers, and these investments will accelerate our industry’s recovery as we ensure Western Canada recovers from the pandemic more connected than ever» added Weathrill.
WestJet’s newest route will be operated by its flagship aircraft, the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner which features 16 seats in business class, 28 seats in premium economy, and 276 seats in economy class.
With the addition of Heathrow (LHR) to WestJet’s network this spring, the airline will connect Calgary to 77 destinations year-round.
At the same time, the Canadian airline will continue to offer service from Vancouver (YVR), Toronto (YYZ), Halifax (YHZ) and Calgary (YYC) to London-Gatwick (LGW).
Frequencies, schedules, and introductory fares for the Calgary (YYC) – London Heathrow (LHR) route will be available in the coming weeks from the airline’s website. WestJet’s European offering consists of Gatwick (LGW), Amsterdam (AMS), Paris (CDG), Rome – Fiumicino (FCO), Dublin (DUB), Barcelona (BCN), Edinburgh (EDI), and Glasgow (GLA).
«WestJet is a fantastic airline with a strong track record of providing first-class service and excellent value for money, making it an excellent choice for Heathrow. As travel begins to reopen, we look forward to working with WestJet to enhance UK-Canada connectivity and provide passengers with even more choice when flying across the Atlantic» said John Holland-Kaye, Chief Executive of Heathrow Airport (LHR).
«WestJet’s new non-stop route from YYC to London Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport, is welcomed by those looking to access the world’s leading financial and business hub and those who want a direct connection to explore London’s culture and sights. We look forward to welcoming passengers from across the pond to experience the traditional indigenous lands and quality hospitality for which our region is known,» added Bob Sartor, President,40 and CEO of the Calgary Airport Authority.
