WestJet Is Adding More Flights to Europe and Asia from Calgary International

WestJet on Monday unveiled its 2023 summer schedule for its 787 Dreamliner, a schedule that includes an expansion into both Asia and Europe from Calgary International Airport.

Starting April 30, 2023, WestJet will fly between Calgary and Tokyo Narita Airport three times weekly, making it the only airline to offer a nonstop between Alberta and Asia. From there, travelers will be able to connect to more than 50 destinations across Asia.

Then, starting just a week later on May 6, WestJet will offer direct Calgary to Barcelona service three times weekly, and then, on May 17, it will offer Calgary to Edinburgh direct service three times weekly. Those will join already announced service between Calgary and London, Paris, Rome, and Dublin.

All the new routes will contribute to a 25% growth for WestJet’s overall capacity in 2023, a welcome sign for a stressed travel ecosystem that is still trying to reach the supply levels from 2019. WestJet’s expansion, according to its CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech, is focused on bringing “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,” he said.

In total, WestJet will fly to eight different transoceanic destinations in 2023 from Calgary.