Canada’s WestJet announces new flights to Gatwick

Low-cost Canadian airline WestJet has announced plans to launch services between Gatwick airport and Canada next year, which will provide more competition to other transatlantic budget carriers.

The Gatwick flights will be WestJet’s first to and from England, and the airline firm’s first transatlantic destination from Canada for its wide-body Boeing 767-300 aircraft.

WestJet currently flies between Dublin and St John’s in Newfoundland and Labrador, and recently began flying between Glasgow and Halifax in Nova Scotia last month.

Established in 1996, WestJet flies to more than 120 destinations in 20 countries.

Gregg Saretsky, WestJet’s chief executive, said: “Gatwick is the ideal airport for our first transatlantic, wide-body destination. WestJet needs more well-managed and efficient airports like Gatwick to continue to offer the best fares available for our guests.”

Chris Avery, WestJet vice-president, network planning, alliances and corporate development, added: “We love Gatwick as a convenient airport with great connectivity to central London and access to other low-cost airlines flying to points in Europe and beyond. We look forward to welcoming travellers from Gatwick through our network to destinations across Canada.”