Calgary Archives – London Air Travel

WestJet to fly Boeing 787 Dreamliner from London Gatwick

WestJet will fly its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner from London Gatwick to Calgary from Monday 29 April 2019, featuring WestJet’s first international business class.

London Air Travel » Calgary

Business Class, WestJet Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (Image Credit: WestJet0

For the past two years, WestJet has been flying from London Gatwick to a number of Canadian cities.

It is fair to say it did not get off to the best of starts, with significant reliability issues with its fleet of Boeing 767 aircraft.

However, from next year, WestJet will radically improve its competitive position in London. At least on one route.

WestJet confirmed today, Wednesday 10 October 2018, that from Monday 29 April 2019 its daily flight from London Gatwick to Calgary will be operated with its new fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.

By any measure, this will be a substantial upgrade. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner will feature WestJet’s first international business class cabin. The cabin features fully flat seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, all with direct aisle access. WestJet also promises on-demand dining and a turndown service in business class. This will make WestJet extremely competitive against Air Canada and BA.

The aircraft also has a premium economy cabin with 2-3-2 seating and a self-service bar area and an economy cabin with 3-3-3 seating and in-flight entertainment. Full details of WestJet’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner are available on a dedicated microsite.

WestJet will also fly the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner from Paris and Dublin to Calgary later in 2019.
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BA suspends London Heathrow – Calgary for winter season

British Airways has suspended its route to Calgary for the winter season. It now operates on a summer seasonal basis only.

London Air Travel » Calgary

British Airways Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (Image Credit: Heathrow)

British Airways has suspended its daily service from London Heathrow to Calgary for the winter season. The route now operates on a summer seasonal basis only.

The last outbound and inbound flight operates on Saturday 27 October 2018. The service resumes on Sunday 31 March 2019 until Monday 25 October 2019.

It then resumes again, initially four times weekly, on Sunday 29 March 2020 until Saturday 3 October 2020. The affected flight numbers are BA102 and BA103.

No specific reason has been given for the cancellation. However, it is a reasonable assumption that unsatisfactory commercial performance is behind the decision.

BA started flying from London Heathrow to Calgary in December 2006, initially with a Boeing 767 aircraft. The route then changed to a Boeing 787 in July 2014.

Air Canada will continue to fly direct from London Heathrow to Calgary year-round.

Update May 2020

Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, this route will not operate in the summer of 2020.

It is currently scheduled to return from Sunday 28 March 2020.

WestJet confirms transatlantic routes from London Gatwick

London Air Travel » Calgary

WestJet Boeing 767 aircraft (Image Credit: WestJet)

Canadian airline WestJet has today confirmed it is to launch summer seasonal direct flights from London Gatwick to no less than six Canadian cities: Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, St John’s, Edmonton and Winnipeg.

Flights will operate from the week beginning Monday 4 May 2015 to the end of October 2015.

Flights to Vancouver will operate six times weekly, Edmonton will operate twice weekly, Calgary five times weekly and Winnipeg once weekly. Flights to Toronto and St. John’s will both operate once daily.

In total, this represents 28 return trips from London Gatwick total each week.

This represents a significant expansion in capacity between London and Canada, and significant competition to British Airways and Air Canada from London Heathrow and Air Canada Rouge and Air Transat from London Gatwick. This, combined with the expansion of Norwegian at London Gatwick means that the airport is carving out a niche for low cost transatlantic travel.

In the case of Winnipeg, WestJet’s service will also be the only direct route between the city and London.

All London flights, with the exception of flights to St John’s, will be operated by one of WestJet’s four Boeing 767-300ERW extended range aircraft.

Each Boeing 767 seats 262 passengers. The main economy cabin has 238 seats in a 2-3-2 configuration. Passengers in the main cabin will be offered complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic drinks and the option to purchase hot meals. The cabin does not also feature seat back in flight entertainment. Instead, the aircraft will be equipped with WestJet Connect, the airline’s inflight entertainment and wireless connectivity system which can stream entertainment to your smartphone/tablet. Passengers are also offered one complimentary checked bag. However, seat selection fees will apply.

The aircraft will include a “Plus” premium cabin with 24 seats in a 2-2-2 configuration and complimentary hot meals.

Flights are on sale now and to mark the launch, WestJet is offering special introductory fares which it claims are the lowest on the market for bookings made by Wednesday 16 September for travel between 6 May 2015 to 28 June 2015.