WestJet Links Halifax to 14 Cities via Amsterdam
Canada’s WestJet is set to return to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol on May 29 with a new six-times-weekly service from Halifax Stanfield International Airport, reopening a route the carrier paused more than two years ago. Operating aboard a Boeing 737-8, the Calgary-based airline will offer seamless connections through its expanded codeshare agreement with Air France-KLM, giving passengers one-ticket access to 14 European cities via KLM flights at AMS.
Travelers departing Halifax will land in Amsterdam and connect on the same itinerary to six French destinations—Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Rennes and Toulouse—plus Italian gateways Bologna, Florence and Milan Linate. Portuguese capitals Lisbon and Porto are also on the list, while passengers can reach Brussels, Helsinki and Prague on onward KLM services. The codeshare enhancement underlines WestJet’s strategy to boost transatlantic connectivity from eastern Canada without the need for multiple bookings or lengthy transfers.
This restart of Halifax–Amsterdam service marks WestJet’s fourth European destination from YHZ, joining existing summer seasonal flights to Dublin, Edinburgh and Paris Charles de Gaulle. The carrier also flies to CDG from St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, where an expanded codeshare with Air France unlocks four additional cities—Bucharest, Budapest, Prague and Bologna—bringing the total number of European destinations accessible from CDG on WestJet itineraries to more than 50.
Jared Mikoch-Gerke, WestJet’s director of airport affairs and alliances, described the broader network access as a game changer for Atlantic Canadian travelers, offering more destinations, fewer layovers and streamlined travel through major European hubs. “The enhanced codeshare agreement with Air France-KLM provides our guests with flexible options to explore more of Europe, all on a single ticket,” he said.
In parallel with its transatlantic relaunch, WestJet is growing its domestic footprint this summer. In early July, regional affiliate WestJet Encore will inaugurate twice-weekly De Havilland Dash 8-400 service from Edmonton International Airport to Prince George, British Columbia, starting July 5, and to Kamloops beginning July 6. The new routes reflect rising demand for Ontario and western Canada travel, with WestJet CCO John Weatherill noting that political tensions have led the airline to prioritize domestic and leisure markets over curtailed U.S. services. “Restoring service to Kamloops and introducing service to Prince George directly responds to Canadians’ interest in exploring their own backyard this summer,” he said.
WestJet’s return to Amsterdam follows its previous AMS service from Calgary using a Boeing 787-9, which ended in early 2023. By operating from Halifax, the airline taps into a market keen on convenient European connections without the need to travel to central Canada or the U.S. East Coast. The introduction of a 737-8 on the route balances capacity with efficiency, allowing WestJet to meet demand while optimizing its fleet utilization.
With bookings open for the new Halifax–Amsterdam flights and domestic expansions on sale, travel advisors and passengers are already planning summer itineraries. The combination of streamlined European access and revived regional routes underscores WestJet’s commitment to offering Canadians diverse travel options in 2025. As the carrier navigates a shifting geopolitical landscape, its focus on single-ticket convenience and domestic growth positions it to capture vacation seekers and business travelers alike.
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