WestJet plans to offer flights to Tokyo starting this spring, marking the airline’s first non-stop flights to Asia from Calgary. The service will operate three times weekly beginning April 30. The airline also announced new routes from Calgary to Barcelona and Edinburgh and increased frequency to Dublin, London, Paris, and Rome, also starting in the spring.

WestJet chief executive Alexis von Hoensbroech says the new flights are part of the airline’s plan to expand capacity from Calgary by more than 25% by next year, beginning with intercontinental routes.

WestJet also says it is preparing for broader expansion within Canada and North America over the coming months and will increase frequencies on existing European routes.

The summer 2023 summer flights, aboard 787 Dreamliner aircraft, will encompass eight transoceanic destinations from Calgary with 40 weekly departures strategically scheduled to maximize connecting capacity across 24 Western Canadian communities.

Flight details

Tokyo: With three-time weekly seasonal service to Tokyo Narita beginning April 30, 2023, WestJet will be the only airline providing transpacific service to Asia direct from Alberta.

Europe: WestJet’s service from Calgary to both Barcelona (starting May 6) and Edinburgh (May 17) will operate seasonally through October, up to three-times weekly. With the addition of its newest routes, WestJet will offer service to six European cities, increasing capacity by 95% with continuing seven-times a week flights to London Heathrow and Paris, plus London Gatwick (April 30); Rome (five times a week from April 6); and Dublin (five times a week from April 30).