Calgary-based WestJet is launching a brand new connection between Halifax in Nova Scotia and Amsterdam. It will be the only non-stop link between Amsterdam and Atlantic Canada, operating during the summer season, with the first flight taking off from Halifax on May 29.
The carrier plans to run up to six weekly services through Oct. 26. Flights will be operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 8.
WestJet’s Transatlantic Expansion
The new service joins WestJet’s rapidly growing portfolio of transatlantic flights out of Atlantic Canada, specifically from Halifax and St John’s. Besides Amsterdam, the airline will fly to Dublin, Edinburgh, London Gatwick, and Paris from Halifax this summer.
The airline’s transatlantic seat capacity from Halifax will almost double compared to 2024. In the summer of 2024, the airline had up to 11 weekly flights across the pond from Halifax. This summer, the number of weekly services is expected to rise to 20, thanks to the addition of Amsterdam and Paris.
The airline had an extensive transatlantic network from the Nova Scotian city before the pandemic, before shifting its strategy and concentrating its transatlantic network to its main hub in Calgary in 2022. As a part of the shift in 2022, WestJet served Amsterdam with three weekly services on its Dreamliner for the summer season, though the flight did not return the following year.
Despite resuming transatlantic services from other Canadian cities since 2023, Calgary remains its most important intercontinental hub, with year-round services to London and Paris, as well as seasonal services to Barcelona, Dublin, Edinburgh, Rome, and Reykjavik.
Connections on Both Ends
The new route will allow Canadian passengers to connect in Halifax, which, thanks to its position in Eastern Canada, minimizes travel time. During the peak summer season, according to aeroroutes, WestJet plans to offer the following domestic destinations from Halifax:
| Destinations | Frequency |
| Calgary | Up to four daily |
| Edmonton | Up to two daily |
| Toronto | Up to two daily |
| Winnipeg | Daily |
The new connection will serve as a new option for travelers from these cities to reach Amsterdam, with an eastbound schedule also designed to cater to connecting domestic flights.
“We are very pleased that WestJet will be resuming service at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and we look forward to welcoming the first flight on 30 May. Halifax is an exciting new destination at Schiphol and will be our sixth in Canada. The deployment of Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft contributes to our policy to encourage airlines to operate their quietest and cleanest aircraft at Schiphol,” said Patricia Vitalis, executive director of operations at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, in a news release.
On the other end, Amsterdam is the hub of WestJet’s partner KLM. The two airlines have a codeshare agreement and passengers are expected to be able to connect to KLM’s European network on a single ticket, though it is unclear what destinations will be available at this moment.
