WestJet announced an expansion of its European summer 2024 network. Propelled by its growing 737 MAX fleet, the airline reintroduced sought-after service connecting Eastern Canada and Europe and introduced new service from Calgary to Reykjavik (Keflavik). As WestJet continues to strengthen its presence in Western Canada, the airline is also enhancing its 787 Dreamliner hub, increasing frequencies for international routes and adding daily exclusive service to Japan.   Western Canada’s gateway to Iceland, unlocked   With four-times weekly service, beginning May 15, 2024, WestJet will be the only airline providing direct connectivity to Iceland from Calgary.  

Route	Service start date	Frequency	Departure time (local)	Arrival time (local)
Calgary-Reykjavik (Keflavik)	May 15	4x weekly	7:55 p.m.	8:25 a.m.
Reykjavik (Keflavik)-Calgary	May 16	4x weekly	9:45 a.m.	10:43 a.m.

  WestJet’s service to Reykjavik will be further enhanced by the airline’s interline agreement with Icelandair, enabling guests to travel across Icelandair and WestJet’s network via one boarding pass, with the convenience of a single check-in and baggage tagged and checked to their final destination.   Eastern Canada’s tourism pipeline strengthened with seasonal return of European service   In keeping with its commitment to being Canada’s leisure champion from coast-to-coast, WestJet is pleased to reconnect three major eastern Canadian cities to key European destinations this summer, with service from Toronto to Dublin and Edinburgh, Halifax to Dublin, Edinburgh, and London, and St. John’s to London.   Stimulating key leisure, business and cargo demand, WestJet’s seasonal service to Europe this summer from Eastern Canada is reaffirmation of the airline’s commitment to Eastern and Atlantic Canada’s international air connectivity.  

Route	Service start date	Peak frequency	Departure time (local)	Arrival time (local)
Halifax-Dublin	June 19	4x weekly	10:30 p.m.	7:55 a.m.
Dublin-Halifax	June 20	4x weekly	9:30 a.m.	11:32 a.m.
Halifax-Edinburgh*	June 20	3x weekly	10:40 p.m.	8:04 a.m.
Edinburgh-Halifax	June 21	3x weekly	9:30 a.m.	11:38 a.m.
Halifax-London (Gatwick)	April 28	4x weekly	11:00 p.m.	9:04 a.m.
London (Gatwick)-Halifax	April 29	4x weekly	11:00 a.m.	1:46 p.m.
Toronto-Dublin	March 1	Daily	9:45 p.m.	9:39 a.m.
Dublin-Toronto	March 2	Daily	11:00 a.m.	1:54 p.m.
Toronto-Edinburgh	May 14	Daily	10:15 p.m.	10:05 a.m.
Edinburgh-Toronto	May 15	Daily	11:25 a.m.	1:59 p.m.
St. John's-London (Gatwick)	May 1	3x weekly	12:15 a.m.	9:00 a.m.
London (Gatwick)-St. John's	May 1	3x weekly	11:00 a.m.	1:15 p.m.

*New route not previously operated   Increased intercontinental frequencies bolster Calgary’s position as a convenient two-way tourism gateway for Western Canada   With increased frequency between Calgary and Tokyo and six transatlantic destinations, WestJet is providing Western Canadian communities with more choice and access to their favourite international destinations this summer. Following a highly successful introduction of non-stop service to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport, the airline is responding to significant demand for the popular route and increasing service to daily this summer.  

Route	Service start date	Frequency summer 2024	Previous frequency summer 2023
Calgary-Tokyo	April 3	Daily	3x weekly
Calgary-Rome	March 16	6x weekly	5x weekly
Calgary-Barcelona	April 30	4x weekly	3x weekly
Calgary-Edinburgh	May 12	4x weekly	3x weekly
Calgary-Paris	Year-round	Daily	Daily
Calgary-London (Heathrow)	Year-round	Daily	Daily
Calgary-Dublin	April 29	5x weekly	5x weekly

Canadian airline WestJet is expanding its airline codeshare with Air France. The current 22 destinations in Europe from Paris Charles de Gaulle will be expanded by another 31 destinations. The new airline codeshare routes go live on 25 September. They include Edinburgh, Manchester and Birmingham in the UK, Dublin, Marseille, Barcelona and Madrid. Also, WestJet is extending its summer Calgary-Paris route to year round daily service. “Air France and WestJet have a longstanding and extensive relationship and are expanding the cooperation further,” said Fahmi Mahjoub, Air France KLM’s SVP for alliances.

  With its recent addition to the prestigious Blue Diamond Resorts portfolio, Royalton CHIC Antigua is set to debut and welcome guests to the leeward island, where the Atlantic meets the Caribbean, in early April 2024. Coaxing spirited travelers with a vibrant and social all-inclusive vacation experience, designed exclusively for adults, the beachfront resort is set on the northwest coast of Antigua and is now available for bookings.   Located 20 minutes from VC Bird International Airport along idyllic Dickinson Bay Beach, Royalton CHIC Antigua will unfold as a tropical hotspot for vibrant couples, groups of friends and energetic solo travelers. The resort will invite visitors to break free from the everyday routine with an out-of-this-world getaway that bubbles with energy and vitality through Royalton CHIC’s exuberant Party Your Way concept, ensuring that everyone enjoys a lively atmosphere with something to celebrate every day.   “The upcoming opening of Royalton CHIC Antigua marks a significant milestone in the West Indies and for Blue Diamond Resorts. This unique concept of all-inclusive hospitality has proven to be a success, and introducing it to Antigua is a perfect match. This move enhances the destination's positioning for international travelers seeking vibrant experiences,” said Jordi Pelfort, President, Blue Diamond Resorts. “As always, exceptional service and top-notch experiences are the pillars of rewarding hospitality, and we anticipate that guests will be able to embrace plenty of both at our newest Royalton CHIC Resort in Antigua.”   Situated along a sandy beachfront that shimmers in sun and starlight through the day, Royalton CHIC Antigua will feature 235 stylish rooms and suites, each with a balcony or terrace for breathtaking ocean and sunset views, and modern décor in keeping with sister Royalton CHIC Resorts in Punta Cana and Cancun. Lush details will include Royalton’s signature DreamBed™, rain shower and All-In Connectivity™ amenities; 24/7 room service featuring the picks from the menus of onsite dining outlets, creating the perfect setting for guests to linger in after active, energetic days.   Royalton CHIC Antigua will also offer guests a wide array of captivating experiences and activities, with something for everyone to enjoy throughout their stay. For passionate foodies, introducing the first Overwater Restaurant of its kind in the region, Pescari is driven by a Diningtainment concept that elevates dining and entertainment with awe-inspiring views of crystal clear waters. This exclusive restaurant will elevate dining experiences with breathtaking ocean views, incredible sunsets and a stylish atmosphere filled up with effervescent energy and unparalleled vibe. A wide variety of dining and drinking destinations will be available on terra firma as well, with seven restaurants, five bars, and an on-site rum shop conceived for the property including an authentic steakhouse, menus highlighted by Mediterranean and Italian cuisines, the mouthwatering flavors of the Caribbean, and assorted opportunities to indulge in cocktail pairing and special mixology.   Guests eager for an even more luxurious and exclusive resort experience will be able to elevate their stay at Royalton CHIC Antigua with the exclusive Diamond Club™ room category, offering everything from butler services to personalized check-in and check-out, private space to call their own by the pools and on the beach, and ultimate in-room amenities to take their downtime over the top.   Resort offerings will also include sparkling swimming pools, a picture-perfect beach club with a captivating view of the pristine shoreline and a bubbling ambiance, an entertainment plaza with a theater for live music and more; and an indulgent spa with wellness offerings for the body, mind, and spirit, including pampering treatments and a hydrotherapy circuit (at additional cost). To complement personal wellness journeys, a selection of modern equipment at the resort’s fitness center will offer a robust program of instructor-led activities to aid guests in maintaining and even surpassing their fitness goals including Paddle Board, Sunset Yoga, and Beach Bootcamp.

Canadian leisure airline Sunwing Airlines is being acquired by the WestJet Group. The deal includes the airline as well as in-house tour operator. Sunwing Vacations. It is the perfect deal ‘bringing together two highly complementary businesses, ’said WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech. On completion WestJet will establish a new tour operator business led by Sunwing CEO Stephen Hunter. The new unit will comprise Sunwing Vacations and WestJet Vacations as separate brands. WestJet said it will also expand Sunwing Airlines’ current seasonal schedules to year-round. Sunwing operates 40 aircraft in winter and only 10 in summer Sunwing is controlled by the Hunter family with tour operator TUI Group owning a 49% stake. The companies said there would not be any layoffs because of the takeover. "We feel strong enough, even more so together, to recover well out of this pandemic and to be more competitive, specifically in a low-cost market," von Hoensbroech said.

Canadian airlines Air Transat and WestJet, will cooperate in a codeshare pact that allows customers to book transatlantic travel involving both carriers on a single ticket with through-checked bags. "We are very excited to join forces with WestJet in what I am sure will be a successful collaboration. This agreement is a first milestone to grow and strengthen our network through alliances ", said Annick Guérard, President and CEO of Transat. WestJet's code will be placed on Air Transat flights to select cities across Europe, and Air Transat's code will be placed on select WestJet flights in North America to enable both carriers to offer the connecting transatlantic itineraries. The codeshare agreement is scheduled to be implemented in early 2022, subject to usual regulatory approvals. The airlines will update customers with details once finalised.

Canada based Westjet is adding more flights to Scotland for next summer. Four times weekly flights from Toronto to Glasgow kick off from 20 May 2022, followed by three flights a week to Edinburgh on  2 June 2022. Edinburgh is a new destination for the airline while it has been flying to Glasgow for several years. The airline will also restart Halifax - Glasgow flights. "As we continue to rebuild our international network, we're pleased to offer our guests new options to connect via our Toronto hub," said John Weatherill, WestJet Chief Commercial Officer. "Guests on both sides of the Atlantic will benefit from more choices and lower fares when travelling between Canada and Scotland," Scotland is now open for Canadian travellers, after Canada's recent move to the UK's green list. "VisitScotland has enjoyed a very positive partnership with WestJet and we look forward to working closely with them to make these additional services a success also," said Denise Hill, Head of Engagement at Visit Scotland.