WestJet announces new flights from Calgary to Tokyo, Barcelona and Edinburgh
WestJet is set to takeoff to Tokyo in the spring. The Calgary-based airline announced Monday morning its first non-stop flights to Asia and additions to its European offerings, with routes to Edinburgh and Barcelona.
The first of the flights from Calgary to Tokyo's Narita International Airport will start at the end of April. WestJet's 787 Dreamliners will fly to Japan three times a week.
"It's a remarkable moment for our company and, I think, truly for Calgary. A couple of years ago we announced our first flights to Europe and today is the day we announce our first flight to an Asian destination," said Alexis von Hoensbroech, WestJet's chief executive.
"Tokyo will be a destination that will see more passengers coming from the destination than going to the destination. So this is great for tourism in Albertan and also, hopefully, for us," he said.
The company says it is preparing for broader expansion within Canada and North America over the coming months. WestJet plans to expand its capacity from Calgary by more than 25 per cent in 2023.
"What's particularly exciting about today's announcement is that we are truly a global destination," said Travel Alberta CEO David Goldstein.
"Having direct flights from those key global markets are important for business travel, leisure travel, visiting friends and family. It's going to be a huge stimulus to rebuild the visitor economy here in Alberta," added Goldstein.
The airline also increased the frequency of flights from Calgary to London, Rome, Paris and Dublin.
With files from The Canadian Press.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction from landmark trial
New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction, finding the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that is banned at Queen’s Park.
CTE: Researchers believe widespread brain injury may contribute to veteran suicide rate
Researchers are working to better understand if some Canadian military veterans may be suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE -- a disorder previously found in the brains of professional football and hockey players after their death.
1 arrested in northern Alberta during public shelter order
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
New deep-water channel allows first ship to pass Key bridge wreckage in Baltimore
The first cargo ship passed through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore on Thursday after being stuck in the harbor since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago, halting most maritime traffic through the city's port.
First in Canada procedure performed at London, Ont. hospital
A London man has become the first person in Canada to receive a robotic assisted surgery on his spine. Dave Myeh suffered from debilitating, chronic back pain that led to sciatica in his right now and extreme pain in his lower back.