Virgin Atlantic, which will launch service from Toronto Pearson (Terminal 3) on March 30, and WestJet have announced an expanded codeshare agreement that will facilitate connections on Virgin between London Heathrow and 13 Canadian gateways via YYZ. The two airlines will co-locate at Toronto Pearson International Airport’s Terminal 3.
Passengers can also connect beyond London in the UK and further, including India.
The partnership will provide seamless connectivity for Canadians travelling to the UK, including transferring through Toronto Pearson without having to collect and re-check their baggage to their final destination.
The first phase of the agreement will allow Canadian customers booking through Virgin Atlantic to connect from their preferred city on a WestJet flight via Toronto Pearson International onwards to London with Virgin Atlantic on one ticket. Cities include Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Ottawa, and more. Flights are now on sale for tickets to London Heathrow via Toronto (YYZ) commencing March 30.
Loyalty partnership program benefits across both Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and WestJet Rewards are expected to roll out later in the year.
Virgin Atlantic’s Toronto service will be the carrier’s first route to Canada in more than a decade. The route will reinforce the airline’s commitment to the Indian subcontinent and its third largest market with onward connectivity for Canadians travelling to Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, as well as Dubai, the Maldives, Cape Town and Johannesburg via London Heathrow.
“Canada is an incredibly important opportunity for Virgin Atlantic as many of our customers travel between the Great White North, the UK, India and beyond,” said Juha Jarvinen, EVP and Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Atlantic. “This expanded partnership with WestJet, alongside our partners at Delta Air Lines, Air France and KLM, will create seamless connectivity for our customers… Canadian customers can expect a premium, personalised experience at every step of the journey..”
Virgin Atlantic appointed long-time WestJet exec Stephen Goulding as Canada Country Manager in January.
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