Gatwick expands North America connections this summer with 50 flights a week to six destinations across Canada

Passengers can now book on 50 flights per week to six destinations across Canada this summer, as new and returning routes to Montreal, Quebec City, Vancouver and Halifax join existing services to Toronto and Calgary. These new lines will enhance connectivity and encourage tourism and trade, in line with VINCI Airports’ aim for a positive impact through air mobility.

Air Transat is operating three weekly flights to Montreal (increasing to daily flights from June), alongside a once-a-week service to Quebec City – the first time the UK has benefitted from a direct scheduled service to the city. 

The airline has also increased its flights to Toronto to a daily service (two flights a day from late June), complementing the daily operation (increasing to nine flights per week from mid-June) WestJet operates between Gatwick and Canada’s most populous city – an international centre of business, finance, arts and culture.

WestJet will also be operating six flights a week weekly to west-coast Vancouver (one flight a day from mid-June), and four flights a week to Halifax (increasing to daily flights from mid-July), the provincial capital of Nova Scotia. This is in addition to the three times weekly service it offers to Calgary (increasing to five per week from mid-June), famed for its annual Stampede and as a gateway to the Canadian Rockies.

Stephanie Wear, VP of Aviation Development, 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.

“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.”

Marsha Walden, President & CEO, Destination Canada, said: “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. 

“Re-establishing air routes into Canada is critical to rebuilding our industry and driving revenue back into tourism businesses across our vast country. 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.”  

According to data from Destination Canada, more than 900,000 tourists travelled to Canada from the UK in 2019, making the UK Canada’s largest long-haul market. Meanwhile, data from Visit Britain shows 850,000 Canadians visited the UK in 2018. 

Destination Canada research also shows Vancouver is the most sought-after place in the country for potential UK visitors to go on holiday, closely followed by Toronto and Niagara Falls, then Montreal and Quebec City, meaning Gatwick passengers now have easy access to each of the top five destinations in Canada.

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