WestJet will expand their Boeing 787 Dreamliner intercontinental service from Calgary for summer 2023, with Tokyo-Narita becoming the airline’s first destination in Asia. The carrier will also launch new service to Barcelona and Edinburgh.
On Monday (December 5, 2022), WestJet announced an expansion of their intercontinental Boeing 787 Dreamliner service from Calgary International Airport (YYC) for summer 2023. The carrier will launch their first destination in Asia with new service between Calgary and Tokyo-Narita (NRT). WestJet will also launch new service to Barcelona and Edinburgh, while significantly increasing frequencies from Calgary to Dublin, London, Paris and Rome. For summer 2023, WestJet will offer eight transoceanic destinations, with 40 weekly departures strategically timed to connect 24 Western Canadian communities.
In Monday’s announcement, WestJet Group’s Chief Executive Officer, Alexis von Hoensbroech, said,
“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. 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.”
Also commenting on WestJet’s expansion, Calgary Airport Authority’s President and CEO, Bob Sartor, said,
“This is a tremendous day for WestJet, our city and for YYC Calgary International Airport. Calgarians will now have more choices when travelling abroad thanks to WestJet's major investment in flights from our airport. WestJet making Calgary its single global 787 hub and these additional route offerings demonstrates their confidence in the economic future of both Calgary and Alberta. And it reinforces the advantage of YYC Calgary International Airport's strategic position as a global connections hub.”
Seasonal service between Calgary and Tokyo-Narita will operate three times weekly from April 30, 2023, with WestJet becoming the only airline providing direct transpacific service from Alberta. WestJet’s service to Barcelona (Spain) and Edinburgh (Scotland) will operate up to three times weekly on a seasonal basis from May through October. WestJet will also increase capacity by 95 percent compared to summer 2022 on routes to to London (Heathrow and Gatwick), Paris, Rome and Dublin.
In 26 years of service, WestJet has cut airfares for Canadians in half and increased the flying population around Canada by over 50 percent. The airline launched in 1996 with three aircraft, 250 employees and five destinations, and has now grown to more than 180 aircraft and 14,000 employees, offering service to over 110 destinations in 23 countries (pre-pandemic).
Source: WestJet/CNW
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