WestJet has now removed every long-haul route that wasn't served from Calgary. The final one to go was Vancouver to London Gatwick, effectively replaced by British Airways' new service, which starts in May.

Now focused on a single hub

WestJet's shift to focus wholeheartedly on Calgary for long-haul comes as part of widespread changes. Earlier this year, its Commercial Director said that it attempted to be everything to everyone, built hubs in multiple Canadian cities, and didn't simply focus on where it is strongest: in the West. It lost its way, so it has refocused long-haul on Calgary, its spiritual home and busiest airport, described by the carrier as "a really strong hub."

All long-haul is now from Calgary

As of December 20th, WestJet's long-haul network next summer is as follows, obviously all with 787-9s. It includes year-round London Heathrow, which started in March 2022, and summer-seasonal Rome, which launched in May. But it doesn't include Amsterdam, which took off in August 2021: it ends in March.

The end of Amsterdam and non-Calgary long-haul flying frees up aircraft for other missions. Indeed, for now, there's new Calgary to Edinburgh and also Barcelona, both replacing the previous service from Toronto. And there's Tokyo, WestJet's first Asia route, on the back of Air Canada ending it in late 2019 and WestJet's new codeshare with Japan Airlines. Could much-rumored Calgary-Dubai, for which WestJet received slots at the UAE hub, start too?

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Seven airports had Europe flights

Canada's second-largest airline launched long-haul service eight and a half years ago in June 2014. Its first route was between St John's and Dublin, just 2,049 miles (3,298km) apart, shorter than Toronto-Vancouver. It used the 737-700.

The airline's first 767-300ER long-haul operation was in May 2016, followed by the 737 MAX 8 in April 2018 and the 787-9 12 months later. In summer 2023, they'll be 100% by the 787.

Since 2014, WestJet has had Europe flights from Calgary, Edmonton (until August 2019), Halifax (October 2022), St John's (October 2018), Toronto (October 2022), Vancouver (October 2022), and Winnipeg (August 2019).

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15 Europe routes have been cut

None of the following are now served (or soon won't be). Some were exciting and somewhat 'experimental' and more point-to-point focused, on which WestJet is clearly now far less interested as it refocuses on its Calgary hub.

• Calgary-Amsterdam (ends March 24th, 2023)
• Edmonton-London Gatwick
• Halifax-Dublin
• Halifax-Glasgow
• Halifax-London Gatwick
• Halifax-Paris CDG
• St John's-Dublin
• St John's-London Gatwick
• Toronto-Barcelona
• Toronto-Dublin
• Toronto-Edinburgh
• Toronto-Glasgow
• Toronto-London Gatwick
• Vancouver-London Gatwick
• Winnipeg-London Gatwick

Clearly, London Gatwick has been the biggest loser in terms of cities. Gatwick has fallen from a maximum of 5 daily WestJet flights briefly in summer 2019, but typically 4 daily, to just 1 daily next summer. Of course, if its major network shift and refocusing onto Calgary bears much fruit, as it hopes, then it'll make for a stronger, better airline overall.

Did you fly any of the above routes? If so, share your experiences in the comment section.

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  WestJet

  IATA/ICAO Code:

  WS/WJA

  Airline Type:

  Full Service Carrier

  Hub(s):

  Calgary International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, Vancouver International Airport

  Year Founded:

  1994

  CEO:

  Alexis von Hoensbroech

  Country:

  Canada