Westjet launches 28 weekly flights to Canada from Gatwick
Westjet has launched 28 weekly low cost flights to six Canadian cities from Gatwick Airport. Daily services will leave Gatwick for Toronto and St John’s, six a week will service Vancouver, five Calgary, two will leave for Edmonton, and the only non-stop transatlantic service Winnipeg will fly from Gatwick once a week.
Each aircraft will also carry cargo so UK exporters can benefit from fast and regular access to markets across Canada.
Stewart Wingate, Chief Executive Officer, Gatwick Airport, said: “We welcome WestJet – one of the world’s most respected airlines to Gatwick. WestJet prides itself on offering its passengers a high quality service at very competitive prices.
“Gatwick’s 28 new weekly flights to Canada provide a significant boost to the competitiveness of the UK transatlantic market. This competition can only be good for UK consumers enjoy who will benefit from an increased range of destinations at affordable prices, while enjoying WestJet’s renowned commitment to great service.”
Gregg Saretsky, Chief Executive Officer, WestJet said: “The launch of wide-body transatlantic service this weekend ushers in a new era in the history of WestJet. From humble beginnings as a regional airline serving five destinations in Western Canada, we have grown to become a truly international carrier in just two decades, now taking Canadians across the North Atlantic to visit family and friends in London and beyond. I thank more than 11,000 WestJetters as well as our loyal guests for making this remarkable milestone a reality.”
Gordon Campbell, Canada’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, said: “We are so pleased to see the introduction of the new WestJet routes from Gatwick. They will give even more of our British friends the chance to explore Canada’s incredible sights from coast to coast.”
With the exception of flights from St John’s, which will operate on one of the airline’s Boeing Next-Generation 737s, all Gatwick flights will be operated by WestJet’s 767-300 extended-range aircraft. Each aircraft seats 262 passengers and has a range of approximately 11 hours. The main cabin has 238 seats, with 24 premium seats in a two-by-two-by-two configuration. All 767s are also equipped with WestJet Connect, the airline’s new inflight entertainment and wireless connectivity system.