WestJet Temporarily Suspends Summer Transatlantic Flights Between Halifax and Europe

A WestJet flight from Calgary arrives at Halifax Stanfield International Airport in Enfield, N.S., Canada, on July 6, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Andrew Vaughan)

WestJet has announced it will temporarily suspend its summer transatlantic service for all flights between Halifax and Europe due to “capacity constraints.”

In a Jan. 30 statement, the airline said it would engage with local stakeholders and community members to reconsider the return of transatlantic service in 2024.

“Halifax remains an integral part of our network and we understand this is disappointing news for our guests and the local community,” said John Weatherill, WestJet Group executive vice-president and chief commercial officer.

He said the airline had to make “these difficult decisions now” in order to “responsibly balance our schedule alongside operational requirements, capacity constraints and the deployment of our aircraft across Canada.”

Meanwhile, WestJet said it would be enhancing domestic flights, including increasing service between Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Western Canada.

The Calgary-based airline had recently suspended flights headed to Europe from Toronto and Vancouver, in December 2022. This followed its announcement of service between Toronto and Edinburgh, Scotland, just six months earlier.

And in May 2022, the airline had reinstated flights from Halifax to Dublin, London, Glasgow, and Paris.

WestJet said the decision to temporarily cancel services from Halifax was “a result of the airline’s strategic decision ... to responsibly manage and recover its network in response to capacity constraints impacting the aviation ecosystem.”

WestJet flights have departed from Halifax for 19 years. The airline said it intended to focus its services across Eastern Canada on sun and leisure destinations, noting that it had purchased an additional 42 MAX aircraft from Boeing in September 2022, with options for 22 more.

The purchase was in addition to 23 MAX airplanes already on order, which WestJet said extended the company’s growth plan out to 2028.

The new order was for the Boeing 737-10 aircraft, the largest model that Boeing offers in its MAX family. The single-aisle airplane boasts a quieter airplane, larger overhead stowage compartments for luggage, and greater fuel efficiency.

“With this additional order, the WestJet Group will accept delivery of no fewer than 65 aircraft in the next six years, at least 50 will be 737-10 aircraft, furthering our commitment to affordable travel options for Canadians and jobs for our company and the aerospace industry,” said Alexis von Hoensbroech, CEO of WestJet Group.

He said WestJet plans to grow in Eastern Canada with “more direct routes to sun and leisure destinations.”

Westjet said the plan would be “further strengthened once our Sunwing transaction has been approved.”

The airline announced its intent to acquire Sunwing Vacations and Sunwing Airlines in March 2022. In a statement issued by WestJet on Oct. 26, 2022, the company said the transaction “is expected to close by spring 2023 pending remaining regulatory and government approvals.”

On Dec. 9, 2022, Westjet announced it would increase weekly flights departing from Calgary International Airport (YYC) to Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas starting in 2023, noting there was “high demand for popular transborder sun destinations.”