WestJet expansion 2026: New Europe, Colombia & Iceland

WestJet expansion for summer 2026 opens transatlantic and South American routes from Halifax and Toronto while adding Iceland links from Western Canada.

WestJet expansion will roll out in summer 2026 with new transatlantic services from Halifax (YHZ) to Copenhagen (CPH), Lisbon (LIS) and Madrid (MAD), plus daily Halifax–Detroit (DTW) flights operated with Boeing 737-8 (737 MAX 8) narrowbodies. The carrier (WestJet — IATA: WS, ICAO: WJA) says the move builds on a 17.7% year-over-year rise in Europe capacity and its expanding MAX fleet.

WestJet expansion unlocks new long‑haul options

Toronto Pearson (YYZ) will regain direct UK links with new routes to Cardiff (CWL) and Glasgow (GLA), and — notably — Toronto will get WestJet’s first nonstop to Medellín (MDE), marking the airline’s entry into South America from YYZ. Edmonton (YEG) and Winnipeg (YWG) are set to begin weekly Reykjavik (KEF) flights starting June 26–27, 2026, opening Iceland to more travellers from Western Canada.

• Key fleet: 56 Boeing 737-8s in service today, with more than 100 737-10s on order — underpinning WestJet’s network growth.
• New transatlantic city pairs: YHZ–CPH, YHZ–LIS, YHZ–MAD.
• UK restores: YYZ–CWL and YYZ–GLA; South America: YYZ–MDE.
• Iceland links launch: weekly YEG–KEF and YWG–KEF from June 26–27, 2026.

CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech highlighted the MAX’s extended-range capability as a catalyst for these launches, allowing WestJet to operate thinner transatlantic routes from Eastern Canada without widebody aircraft. Cardiff Airport CEO Jon Bridge called the new Toronto link a “major step” in reconnecting Wales with North America for tourism and business.

The expansion increases WestJet’s profile as a transatlantic competitor, though the carrier still trails larger rivals such as Air Canada and Air Transat on market share. WestJet is also adjusting frequencies across its domestic network and adding new domestic Western Canada services to feed the long‑haul flights.