Air Canada Brings Back Transatlantic Service from Canadian Capital

Canada’s largest airline will be resuming flights between Canada’s capital city and one of Europe’s busiest airports. Air Canada has announced that it will once again connect Ottawa with London–Heathrow starting in the spring of 2025.

Details: Air Canada’s Ottawa–London Route

The Montreal-based carrier plans on flying four times weekly between Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport (YOW) and London Heathrow Airport (LHR) from March 31, 2025. Flights will operate in both directions on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays for the summer season.

Air Canada will use Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft on the route, configured with 298 seats: 30 in the airline’s “Signature Class” business class product, 21 seats in premium economy class, and 247 seats in economy class.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Air Canada provided daily year-round service between Ottawa and London Heathrow. The route was operated by the airline’s now-retired Boeing 767-300ER aircraft and was paused in 2020.

The airline’s latest announcement also hinted at the possibility of expanding the route in the future with the Airbus A321XLR. In a press release, Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President of Revenue and Network Planning at Air Canada stated, “The economics, optimum cabin size and range of the XLR which is expected to begin arriving in late 2025, will enable us to consider operating this important international route with greater frequencies and potentially with year-round service.”

The domestic/international check-in area at Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Andrew Chen)

Growing International Opportunities for Ottawa

As the global air travel industry recovered from the effects of the pandemic, the Canadian capital was left without transatlantic air service for a few years. In June of 2023, Air France began flying between Ottawa and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). Air France has been operating the route year-round since then and has also increased the size of the aircraft used on the route from the Airbus A330-200 to the Boeing 787-9 to the Airbus A350-900.

The city’s residents and businesses have been longing for the return of Air Canada’s Heathrow service. “Ottawa residents and business owners have been hoping and calling for a return of direct non-stop service to London, Ottawa mayor Mark Sutcliffe stated in a press release. “The restored flight will boost our local economy, increase tourism, and connect two world capitals.”

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Air Canada also operated a seasonal route between Ottawa and Frankfurt Airport (FRA) during the summer months. Lufthansa was slated to take over this route for the summer of 2020, but those plans were also curtailed by the pandemic.

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Andrew Chen

Andrew is a lifelong lover of aviation and travel. He has flown all over the world and is fascinated by the workings of the air travel industry. As a private pilot and glider pilot who has worked with airlines, airports and other industry stakeholders, he is always excited to share his passion for aviation with others. In addition to being a writer, he also hosts Flying Smarter, an educational travel podcast that explores the complex world of air travel to help listeners become better-informed and savvier travelers.

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