Summary
- WestJet launches nonstop service from Calgary to Iceland, marking the seventh direct connection to Europe this summer.
- Direct flights operated with new 737 MAX 8 aircraft, providing affordable access to fulfill travel aspirations.
- Codeshare agreement with Icelandair offers seamless connections to over 30 European destinations from Keflavik Airport.
It has been an exciting week for the people at WestJet as on Wednesday, the airline launched its exclusive nonstop service from Calgary to the land of Fire and Ice, Iceland. The 737 MAX flight took off from Westjet’s global hub at Calgary International Airport and landed in Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital city.
Westjet’s heading north from Calgary
On May 15, WestJet flight WS38 departed Calgary International (YYC) at 20:03 and, after a 6:17 hour flight, arrived at Reykjavik’s Keflavik International Airport (KEF) at 08:20. The service was operated with a 2023 Boeing 737 MAX 8, registration C-GPFT and MSN 65427, that departed Keflavik on Thursday at 10:20 and arrived in Calgary at 10:54.
The inaugural flight, which was sold out, marked WestJet’s seventh direct connection from Calgary to Europe this summer. On the same day, the 737 MAX 8 that operated the first Iceland service later flew to St. John’s International Airport (YYT) and on Friday will return to Europe, this time on a return service to London Gatwick Airport (LGW).
Related
WestJet Adds 15% More Flights In 2024 Summer Schedule
WestJet is gearing up for a busy Summer this year by adding around 15% more capacity than it operated for summer 2022.
The launch of the new route to Reykjavik has been highly anticipated by Westjet’s team and Canadian travelers looking for something new. The route not only expands international connectivity to and from Calgary but also reinforces the city’s growing reputation as the best-connected mid-sized city in North America.
WestJet Group Executive Vice President, Chief People Corporate and Sustainability Officer Angela Avery said Iceland offers one of the most geologically diverse landscapes in the world, adding:
“As the only airline providing direct connectivity between Calgary and Iceland, WestJet continues to build its presence as Canada’s leisure champion, providing our guests with unprecedented and affordable access to fulfill their travel aspirations year-round.”
Related
End Of The Magic: WestJet Plans Retirement Of Disney-Themed Boeing 737 Liveries
The first co-branded paint scheme debuted over a decade ago.
Seamless connections throughout Europe
The new service is now up and running and will operate four times weekly through October 13, 2024, using the 737 MAX 8. According to Planespotters.net, WestJet has an all-Boeing fleet of 132 aircraft, including 125 737s and seven 787-9 Dreamliners. The narrowbody fleet comprises 39 737-700s, 50 737-800s and 36 737 MAX 8s.
Photo: Heather Dunbar / Shutterstock
The aircraft that launched flights to Iceland was delivered to WestJet on March 13, 2023, and was in service by March 19. It is powered by CFM International LEAP-1B engines and configured in a two-class layout of 174 seats, including 12 premium and 162 economy seats fitted with in-seat 120 AC and USB-A power sockets.
Photo: Icelandair.
The added attraction for passengers on the new route is WestJet’s codeshare agreement with Icelandair, Iceland’s national carrier. Passengers can travel across the Icelandair and WestJet networks via one boarding pass, with the convenience of a single check-in and baggage tagged and checked to their final destination.
That agreement opens a world of possibilities for WestJet passengers arriving in Keflavik, with seamless connections to more than 30 European destinations, four in neighboring Greenland and three domestically to Akureyri, Egilsstaoir and Isaforour. With Iceland now included in the WestJet network, passengers traveling from or through Calgary will access seven transatlantic connections via WestJet’s network this summer.
Have you flown on a WestJet flight recently? Let us know about it in the comments.