WestJet has resumed Boeing 787 Dreamliner service between Calgary and Paris, becoming the only Canadian carrier offering direct service. WestJet has more nonstop flights to Europe from Calgary than any airline, including twice-weekly flights to Amsterdam and London.
On Friday (August 20, 2021), WestJet announced the resumption service between Calgary and Paris. WestJet Flight 10, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, departed Calgary for Paris, making the airline the only Canadian carrier offering nonstop service on the route. With the resumption of service to Paris, WestJet now offers more direct service between Calgary and Europe than any other airline. On August 5, 2021, WestJet launched twice-weekly service from Calgary to Amsterdam, and is currently offering twice-weekly service to London Gatwick, increasing to three-times weekly in September. Since 2019, WestJet’s direct service between Europe and Alberta has driven $90 million in spending from 56,000 inbound travelers.
In Friday’s announcement, WestJet’s Chief Commercial officer, John Weatherill, said,
“We are thrilled to bring back this historic route between Calgary and Paris, reconnecting these two incredible cities and providing easy and unique travel opportunities throughout Europe for Western Canadians. Calgary to Paris is a key market for inbound tourism to Western Canada. Alongside a successful vaccination rollout across Canada, we are proud to see this route return and will continue to invest in the economic recovery and growth of both Calgary and Alberta, following the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Also commenting on the resumption of service to Paris, the Calgary Airport Authority’s Chief Financial Officer and Vice President – Commercial and Strategy, Rob Palmer, said,
“Congratulations to WestJet on resuming their direct service from YYC to Paris. This transatlantic route will further strengthen our presence as WestJet's global hub, as guests are once again able to experience the city of lights in just nine hours. We look forward to welcoming visitors from France and the region to Calgary as they make plans to travel again.”
The resumption of Calgary-Paris service restores WestJet’s longstanding partnership with Air France, facilitating seamless connections to and from 16 European cities including Rome, Venice, Athens and Lisbon. WestJet guests connecting via Air France will continue earning WestJet Dollars throughout their journey.
Celebrating 25 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 100 destinations in 23 countries (pre-pandemic). Even during these unprecedented times, WestJet has maintained their rating by Cirium as one of the top ten airlines for on-time performance in North America.
Source: WestJet