Gatwick Airport Expands Connectivity to Canada Over Summer

London’s Gatwick airport is to increase connectivity with Canada over the summer season with airlines offering 50 flights to six destinations. Services from the U.K.’s second-largest airport will be operated by WestJet and Air Transat with extra capacity being added to existing operations. Quebec City this week joined Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax as a new destination to those currently and previously available from the airport.

Stephanie Wear, Vice President of Aviation Development at Gatwick Airport said, “With so many people in the UK having close connections with Canada, we are delighted to be able to offer Gatwick passengers such easy and widespread access to fantastic destinations across the country.” According to the tourism entity Destination Canada, just over 900,000 tourists traveled to Canada from the U.K. in 2019. The equivalent British entity Visit Britain reported that 850,000 visitors entered the U.K. in 2018.

“Destination Canada is delighted to see the launch of so many routes to Canada from London Gatwick, including the first-ever direct connection to Quebec City with Air Transat,” said Marsha Walden, President and chief executive officer of Destination Canada.

“Re-establishing air routes into Canada is critical to rebuilding our industry and driving revenue back into tourism businesses across our vast country,” Marsha Walden added. “These flights mean Canada’s iconic experiences are even more accessible to British holidaymakers looking to take in our wide-open spaces, nature, wildlife, adventure and return feeling fully rejuvenated. What is particularly encouraging is that demand for the summer months is looking strong and our industry is ready to welcome guests back with open hearts.”

In addition to the once-weekly flight offered to Quebec City Air Transat will increase its thrice-weekly Montreal service to a daily offering in mid-June. Air Transat will also increase services to Canada’s most populous city Toronto with a double daily offering in operation by the end of June. Calgary-based carrier WestJet will also increase services to Toronto with a daily operation peaking at nine flights a week from mid-June.

WestJet will also increase flights to Halifax, Nova Scotia from four per week to a daily service from mid-July. The airline will offer U.K passengers the ability to fly to its home base in the province of Alberta .5 times a week from mid-June up from the current 3 services. The longest route on the Gatwick-Canadian network will be expanded by WestJet from mid-June with an extra flight added to Vancouver, British Columbia making for a daily service offering.

Stephanie Wear added, “From the spectacular landscapes of the Rockies and Nova Scotia to vibrant cities with an array of wonderful sights, it’s really exciting to have so many more opportunities to visit Canada from Gatwick. It’s also great news for those wishing to see family and friends, or conduct business across the Atlantic.”

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John Flett

John has always had a passion for aviation and through a career with Air New Zealand has gained a strong understanding of aviation operations and the strategic nature of the industry.

During his career with the airline, John held multiple leadership roles and was involved in projects such as the introduction of both the 777-200 and -300 type aircraft and the development of the IFE for the 777-300. He was also part of a small team that created and published the internal communications magazines for Air New Zealand’s pilots, cabin crew and ground staff, balancing a mix of corporate and social content.

John is educated to postgraduate level achieving a Masters degree with Distinction in Airline and Airport Management. He has been the course director of an undergraduate commercial pilot training programme at a leading London university and a member of Heathrow Community Trust’s ‘Communities for Tomorrow’ panel.

John is currently living in Canada and is contracted as an external instructor for aviation-related organizations.

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