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Cardiff to Toronto: WestJet Starts Direct Flights May 23, 2026
WestJet will launch nonstop Cardiff to Toronto service on May 23, 2026 — Wales’ first direct Canada link in nearly 20 years.
Cardiff to Toronto nonstop flights will begin on May 23, 2026, when WestJet (IATA: WS, ICAO: WJA) starts regular service from Cardiff Airport (IATA: CWL). The route marks the first nonstop air link between Wales and Canada in almost two decades, a milestone Cardiff Airport says will sharpen the region’s global connections and support post-pandemic recovery.
Cardiff Airport CEO Jon Bridge and Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan highlighted the route’s economic potential, noting that 35 Canadian companies already operate in Wales and that Canada represents an export market worth more than £300 million a year for Welsh firms. WestJet’s Senior Airport Affairs Manager Chris White-DeVries said the link will make Wales easier to reach for Canadian visitors and provide smoother access for Welsh travellers to Eastern Canada.
Why the Cardiff to Toronto link matters
The service is expected to lift tourism, strengthen trade ties and attract investment. Local officials argue the direct connection shortens travel times, reduces the friction of multi-leg itineraries, and makes Cardiff more competitive as a business gateway to North America.
- Tourism boost: direct Cardiff to Toronto flights make Wales more discoverable for Canadian travellers.
- Trade & investment: easier corporate travel for the 35 Canadian firms in Wales and access to a £300m export market.
- Passenger convenience: simpler routing for leisure and business passengers between Wales and Eastern Canada.
Operational specifics such as aircraft type and flight numbers were not released in the initial announcement. WestJet has positioned the route as part of broader connectivity plans that link regional UK airports with transatlantic markets, opening new opportunities for inbound tourism and outbound business travel alike.
For passengers, the restart of nonstop transatlantic service to Canada from Cardiff could cut total journey time and remove the need for London or other hub connections. For the region, it’s both a symbolic and practical step toward rebuilding international links that were scaled down during the pandemic era.
