WestJet to Launch New Vancouver to London Gatwick Flights

WestJet Airlines has revealed that it will be introducing new non-stop service from Vancouver International Airport to London's Gatwick Airport beginning on May 6, 2016. The Calgary-based carrier will also be introducing service to London from five other Canadian cities.

Image Source: WestJet / YouTube
According to the latest airline timetables, WestJet's Vancouver to Gatwick service will be operated six times weekly using the carrier's new Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. Flights will depart Vancouver International Airport at 5:50pm and arrive in London at 11:24am the following day. The return trip will depart Gatwick at 12:55pm and arrive back in Vancouver at 3:40pm. 

Connections are likely to be made available from other cities in British Columbia such as Kelowna and Victoria with WestJet Encore. WestJet will also be adding non-stop service to London from Calgary, Toronto, Edmonton, St. John's, and Winnipeg for a total of 28 weekly flights to the British capital.

Calgary will be served with five weekly flights, while Edmonton will receive two weekly flights. Both Toronto and St. John's, Newfoundland will be served with daily flights. However, flights from Newfoundland will be operated by Boeing 737 aircraft. 

Winnipeg will be served with one weekly flight, which will be the first direct service linking Manitoba and the United Kingdom. Previously, Winnipeg hosted seasonal direct flights to Iceland, operated by the now-defunct low-cost carrier Iceland Express. 


It is expected that WestJet will formally announce the launch of these new routes on Tuesday, September 15. WestJet has invited members of the media to "high tea" in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Winnipeg, and St. John's, where it is believed the announcement will be made.

WestJet will compete directly with Air Canada, which has a firmly established base at London's Heathrow Airport. Air Canada already operates direct flights to London from all of WestJet's planned departure cities with the exception of Winnipeg. 

In addition, Air Canada also plans to add low-cost Air Canada Rouge service between Toronto and London Gatwick for the summer of 2016, which is a direct competitive response to the new WestJet service. Air Canada Rouge and WestJet will join Air Transat, which has long operated service to London Gatwick from Calgary, Toronto, Halifax, Montreal, and Vancouver.

Passengers can expect a decline in airfares to London next year as competition intensifies. In an interview with the Financial Post, Bob Cummings, WestJet Executive Vice President for Commercial Operations, stated that travellers should be able to expect lower fares at least initially. "I encourage consumers to wait and they will be pleasantly surprised by how affordable it is when we introduce service, in particular the introductory fares we put in the market," said Cummings. 

Lower airfares is welcome news to travellers that will be able to take advantage of the reduced pricing, which come as a direct result of increased capacity in the market. Earlier this year, British Airways announced that it will be flying the world's largest aircraft between Vancouver and London next summer. It will be the first and only Airbus A380 service to Vancouver

Experts believe that the lower airfares to London could trigger a trend that may stimulate demand and introduce lower fares to other European cities, especially if WestJet continues to challenge Air Canada and open up routes to more destinations.

According to Ben Cherniavsky, Financial Analyst at Raymond James, the firm believes that WestJet is attempting to replicate what it has done in other markets, which is to lower fares and stimulate demand. National Bank Analyst Cameron Doerksen echoes a similar sentiment. "We believe that WestJet has the network and cost structure to support new international flying and that over the longer term this capacity expansion will be positive," said Doerksen. 

The new service will become the first long-haul route for WestJet Airlines, which has largely focused on short-haul flying in recent years utilizing its fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft. The route to London will become the first long-haul destination for the newest addition to the WestJet fleet, the Boeing 767.

The Boeing 767 will be the first wide-bodied aircraft to be operated by the Canadian low-cost carrier. WestJet's 767 is configured with 262 seats including 24 Premium Seats in the Plus cabin. WestJet's Plus cabin is a form of premium economy featuring hot meals and seats arranged in a two-by-two configuration. The Economy cabin will feature 238 seats arranged seven seats across in a 2-3-2 configuration. 


All four of the Boeing 767 aircraft that will join the fleet this year will be equipped with WestJet Connect, the carrier's new wireless in-flight connectivity and entertainment system. All four of the aircraft are expected to be delivered over the next eight months with two arriving in the fall. Reservations for the new London flights are anticipated to be made available following the official announcement. 

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Darryl Wilson

I am an avid traveller, freelance writer, and hospitality management professional. I enjoy helping people see the world through travel by sharing my own experiences and knowledge. British Columbia is an amazing place that is just waiting to be explored. #ExploreBC

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