Edinburgh will have nonstop routes to ten USA and Canada airports next year, its highest-ever number. It is thanks to WestJet's upcoming Calgary service, with the 3x weekly route launching in May. Alas, it comes as WestJet ends Toronto-Edinburgh, although Air Canada will still serve the airport pair.

WestJet's coming Calgary service

On May 17th, WestJet will take off from Calgary, its principal hub, bound for Edinburgh. It will be its third UK route, joining London Heathrow and London Gatwick, both of which are increasing to once daily next year. Using 320-seat 787-9s, Edinburgh has the following schedule, with all times local:

• Calgary-Edinburgh: WS3, 20:20 - 10:55 (+1) (7h 35m block time)
• Edinburgh-Calgary: WS4, 13:00 - 14:05 (8h 5m)

WestJet introduced Edinburgh in June this year with a 3x weekly service using its 174-seat 737 MAX 8s. That it'll no longer operate, meaning that Edinburgh loses its only MAX 8 transatlantic flight, although narrowbodies will still be used: United will deploy the 757-200ER from Chicago, Newark, and Washington Dulles.

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Ten Edinburgh-North America routes

While things may change, the following routes are all scheduled and bookable to operate next summer. Notice Atlanta, the USA and world's top airport, which returns next summer after a nearly 15-year absence; it also plays an important role in Edinburgh's North America growth. Likewise, Virgin launching Edinburgh-Orlando in March 2022, replacing Glasgow.

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The most seats yet

Looking at the summer peak, Q3 from June to September 2013, Edinburgh will have 116,000 departing seats to the US and Canada, according to the latest Cirium data. That is the highest to date and 2% more than the previous peak in Q3 2017 when Norwegian was a key player and American served Edinburgh. It will be only the second June-September period ever that departing seats have exceeded 100,000.

What is no longer served?

Relating next summer's network to the previous 20 years using Cirium identifies that five routes are no longer operated. No more is Edinburgh connected nonstop to Hamilton (Flyglobespan; May 2007-September 2008), Hartford (Norwegian; June 2017-March 2018), Philadelphia (American; last served in October 2019), Providence (Norwegian; June 2017-October 2018), or Stewart (June 2017-March 2019).

What other US/Canada routes would you like to see from Edinburgh? Let us know in the comments.