Canada’s WestJet resumes transatlantic flights

WestJet (WS, Calgary) resumed transatlantic services from Calgary on August 20, with flights to London Gatwick and Paris CDG. The Canadian carrier operates both routes using its B787-9 widebodies. It currently flies 3x weekly to Gatwick and 2x weekly to CDG. WestJet plans to restart its transatlantic services from Toronto Pearson on October 6 with the relaunch of its Gatwick route, according to the ch-aviation schedules module. All WestJet transatlantic services had been suspended since late March 2020. During the suspension, WestJet used its fleet of six B787-9s (including one delivered in June 2020) almost exclusively on trunk its domestic route between Calgary and Toronto. Besides London and Paris, WestJet’s current international network also includes Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson and Los Angeles Int’l in the United States, Cancún, Kingston Norman Manley, and Montego Bay. In total, the airline operates just 14 weekly scheduled international departures out of Canada. Unlike the United States, Canada is excluded from most European travel bans.