WestJet has record European capacity this year; serves 26 routes with 5 new cities

More than 50 scheduled passenger airlines operate will operate between North America and Europe this year, including the Canadian carrier WestJet.

According to Cirium schedule information, WestJet has flown across the Atlantic since 2014. Its first route was from St. John’s to Dublin on the 737-700. Canada’s second-largest airline continues to serve this market in 2026, just on the 737 MAX 8.

WestJet has a record 662,000 one-way seats to Europe this year and has 6.4% of the Canada-Europe market. It is now the fourth-largest operator, after Air Canada, Air Transat and Air France. Before the pandemic in 2019, it was seventh. Given its highly seasonal operations, its share varies depending on the quarter, from just 3.9% in Q1 to 7.9% in Q3.

WestJet deploys the 787-9 and 737 MAX 8 to Europe (the 767-300ER and 737-700 are long gone). As six in ten flights are provided by the narrowbody, which contributes to a relatively low 232 seats per service, considering available seats is perhaps unfair. If departures are examined, WestJet jumps one place to third, with 7.9% of the market in 2026 – but as high as 10.5% in Q3.

26 routes in 2026

Cirium indicates that 26 routes to Europe are available this year. Four were available in Q1, all 26 are scheduled in Q2 and Q3 and there are 20 planned in Q4. The peak summer, represented by Q3, has 45% of WestJet’s transatlantic seats.

It operates from Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, St. John’s, Toronto and Winnipeg to Europe. It flew from Vancouver between 2016 and 2019 and again in 2022.

With 384,000 one-way seats, WestJet’s primary hub of Calgary remains critical, which is partly due to most routes using the 787-9. But year-over-year capacity growth comes from Halifax (66% more seats due to new routes to Copenhagen, Lisbon and Madrid) and Toronto (+46%; new routes to Cardiff and Ponta Delgada, and a return to Glasgow).

WestJet previously flew from Edmonton and Winnipeg to Europe between 2016 and 2019, when it operated from both cities to London LGW. Seven years later, it will begin flying from Edmonton to Keflavik on 26 June 2026 (weekly), followed by Winnipeg to Iceland’s main airport the next day (weekly).

Paris CDG is the leading destination

15 European airports will be served in 2026, with Cardiff, Copenhagen, Lisbon, Madrid and Ponta Delgada being brand-new to WestJet’s map. Denmark and Portugal are new countries for 2026, while the UK and Spain were already in its network.

With 138,000 one-way seats and 21% of total capacity, Paris CDG remains the most-served destination. Part of WestJet’s network since 2018, three routes are now available: Calgary, Halifax and St. John’s. That is as many routes as Edinburgh (Calgary, Halifax, Toronto) and Keflavik (Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg), but not as many as Dublin (Calgary, Halifax, St. John’s, Toronto).

Calgary to London LHR and Paris CDG are the joint most-served routes

Cirium shows that WestJet has nine European routes from Halifax, seven from Calgary, five from Toronto, three from St. John’s, one from Edmonton and one from Winnipeg. Influenced by a combination of the 787 and sometimes higher frequencies, six of the top 10 routes are from Calgary, down by one year-over-year.

Compared to 2025, WestJet has added eight European routes, some of which benefit from codeshare agreements. Only one has previously been served by the airline. It flew from Toronto to Glasgow in 2022, when that route switched to Edinburgh. WestJet now serves both Scottish cities from Canada’s busiest airport.

• 1 May 2026: Halifax-Lisbon (5-weekly)
• 15 May 2026: Toronto-Glasgow (4-weekly)
• 15 May 2026: Halifax-Madrid (3- to 4-weekly)
• 22 May 2026: Toronto-Cardiff (4-weekly)
• 28 May 2026: Halifax-Copenhagen (4-weekly)
• 12 June 2026: Toronto-Ponta Delgada (3- to 4-weekly)
• 26 June 2026: Edmonton-Keflavik (weekly)
• 27 June 2026: Winnipeg-Keflavik (weekly)