WestJet Launches New Service from Calgary to London Heathrow

Canadian low-cost carrier WestJet celebrated the inaugural flight of its new Calgary to London Heathrow service on Sunday.

The service, which officially kicked off at 12:00 p.m. local time on Sunday, adds to WestJet’s growing Calgary to London schedule, which already includes existing flights to London-Gatwick. In total, WestJet now offers nine different weekly flights between Calgary and London this summer.

"We are pleased to provide our guests traveling to London for business and leisure with greater choice and convenience as we celebrate our inaugural flight to Heathrow Airport," said Chris Hedlin, WestJet Vice-President, Network & Alliances.

"This new route not only strengthens Alberta's travel and tourism pipeline but creates new opportunities for our guests to benefit from access to one of the most connected global aviation hubs." 

The news comes as the carrier continues an expansion.

WestJet also recently added new service between Toronto and Dublin, Ireland, in anticipation of increasing consumer demand for international travel. That service kicks off on May 15.

The carrier also this year announced plans to acquire both Sunwing Vacations and Sunwing Airlines, bringing together two of the Canadian travel industry’s biggest names.

While details are still in the works, the deal, which is expected to close in late 2022, will see WestJet create a new tour operating company under the WestJet Group, which will include both Sunwing Vacations and WestJet Vacations. That company will be led by current Sunwing CEO Stephen Hunter and will be headquartered in Toronto, with The WestJet Group maintaining its head office in Calgary.