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Emergency alert test November 15 2023 | SaltWire
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ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — A direct flight from St. John’s to London, England will resume this May.
The route to London Gatwick Airport will run three times a week between May and October using the modern Boeing 737 Max airplane which has 174 seats. Flights are available for as low as $393 one way.
WestJet vice-president of external affairs, Andy Gibbons, said there will be “more to come” for the province.
He said the London flight is only part of WestJet’s summer schedule for 2024.
He didn’t provide further details, only to say that there will be more information coming in the new year.
WestJet in growth mode
The upbeat announcement, which included a guitarist providing background music, was held at Theatre Hill Bar + Café on Duckworth Street Wednesday morning, Nov. 15.
There were representatives from all three levels of government, as well as business and hospitality leaders.
Gibbons said the airline is in an ambitious growth mode, and it’s no longer trying to be all things to all people. He said that focus strategy is what allowed this new route to happen.
Still, it didn’t come without prodding.
Gibbons joked about the province’s “tireless tourism minister,” Steve Crocker, who he said texts him every day looking for routes and investment.
Crocker replied the only way Gibbons will get him to stop texting is by changing his phone number.
‘Air access is critical’
It’s been four years since the province had a direct connection to Europe, and those gathered at the announcement welcomed the news.
“I cannot begin to explain what this means for Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Premier Andrew Furey.
“The enormous impact it will have, the tremendous potential it will unlock, the new relationships which will form. This is a door opening for an explosion of potential for our people and our industries.
“Perhaps better than most, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians understand the importance of air access. For us, air access is critical. It’s essential. From business and trade, from driving and growing the economy, for travel and tourism — air access is, simply put, a lifeline,” Furey said.
Government working on more routes
He said the government is committed to continuing to improve air access, and it is working on securing other routes.
Furey said the provincial government set aside $3.75 million for all airports in the province to incentivize airlines to come here.
He wouldn’t get into the commercial specifics of the deal made between St. John’s International Airport and WestJet, but said the more people that book this flight, the less money the province has to pay.
‘Surge’ in visitors expected
St. John’s Mayor Danny Breen said the city thrives on tourism — “a vital component of our local economy,” he said — and with this direct connection, he anticipates a “surge” in overseas visitors.