Starting in the coming spring, WestJet has plans to expand its network that will feature a new route that will connect its passengers from the airline’s Toronto hub to Dublin, Ireland.

Beginning on May 15 of 2022, the Canadian low-cost carrier hopes to operate a seasonal summer flight service four times a week, before increasing it to daily flights by June 2.

In announcing the new route, WestJet Chief Commercial Officer, John Weatherill said: “As demand increases, we know travelers are looking for convenient and affordable options for travel between Canada and Europe.”

He adds that the new route will also help WestJet in further solidifying both business and leisure ties between Canada and Ireland, aiding in improving connectivity between these two significant markets.

Maximizing Experience

To mark its inaugural service between Toronto and Dublin, WestJet is looking to operate the route on its Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, which will feature the airline’s newly redesigned Premium cabin.

In a two-class configuration, WestJet will be offering 12 seats in Premium and then 162 seats in Economy.

By offering improved levels of comfort and privacy, the new cabin will allow for WestJet passengers to experience an enhanced and maximizing inflight experience with wider seat configurations and better in-flight dining options.

The flight from Toronto is set to depart at 9:10 PM which then allows for passengers to arrive in Dublin at 8:45 AM the next morning.

After a turn-around of slightly more than an hour, the aircraft departs through a morning flight back from Dublin to Toronto, with the flight scheduled at 10:05 AM and arriving in Toronto at 12:40 PM on the same day.

Cutting the Competition

The new route will complement the airline’s flight service from Calgary and Halifax to Dublin, which is operated using the Boeing 787 Dreamliner as well.

Showing delight to have an additional connection between Canada and Ireland, Ambassador of Ireland to Canada, Eamonn McKee said: “Since WestJet’s inaugural transatlantic flight in 2014 from St John’s to Dublin, we have seen and welcomed the expansion of connections to Ireland through the Halifax–Dublin and Calgary–Dublin routes in 2019. I am therefore delighted to welcome this latest Westjet connection to Ireland, and have no doubt that the strong ties which bind so many people between Canada and Ireland will ensure its success for many years to come.”

And although it might be a new route offered by WestJet, but the low-cost carrier’s plan is not without competition considering that it is not the sole airline connecting Toronto and Dublin.

Other major carriers, such as Canadian flag carrier Air Canada, as well as Ireland’s national carrier Aer Lingus have been operating the route for quite some time already.

In contrast to WestJet’s plan to only use the Boeing 737MAX, Air Canada offers up a much bigger capacity for passengers by using its Boeing 787 Dreamliners, whereas Aer Lingus offers a much higher frequency and operates using its Airbus A321neo.

When comparing the scheduled timings, both Air Canada and Aer Lingus offer rather inflexible and odd schedules alongside longer turn-around times.

Overall, it would seem that the timings offered by WestJet might seem much more favorable for both business and leisure passengers, alongside the consideration that the airline is making quite a bold move to make the frequency rather high from the get-go.

With all the given factors and seeing as how WestJet has planned alongside, or even ahead of its current competitors, it would be interesting to see if the low-cost carrier could successfully turn the tables for success when its Toronto-Dublin route launches.

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Charlotte Seet

Fascinated by aircraft from a very young age, Charlotte’s dream was to work alongside the big birds one day. Pursuing her dream, she went on to achieve her diploma in Aviation Management and is currently working on her degree in Aviation Business in Administration with a minor in Air Traffic Management. When she’s not busy with school assignments, you can find her aircraft spotting for long hours at the airport. In Charlotte’s heart, the Queen of the Skies will always be her favorite aircraft.

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