Planning a Canadian getaway is about to get easier. WestJet has unveiled a series of new and returning routes across its network, opening up more ways to explore Canada’s coasts, cities and national parks, while improving connections to Europe, the United States and beyond. From expanded summer schedules out of Halifax and Vancouver to long-awaited links from mid sized cities such as Sudbury and Sydney, the airline is reshaping how travelers can criss-cross the country in 2025 and 2026.
New Domestic Links Put More Canadian Cities on the Map
For travelers who want to see more of Canada without multiple connections, WestJet’s newest domestic routes are an important development. Beginning in summer 2025, the airline is rolling out fresh nonstops between Halifax Stanfield International Airport and several cities in Western and Central Canada, as well as new point to point links in the Prairies and Ontario. The result is a denser national network that makes it easier to build itineraries spanning more than one region in a single trip.
From Halifax, WestJet will introduce non stop service to Saskatoon and Regina, offering weekly flights that connect the Maritime gateway with two key cities on the Prairies. The airline is also reinstating non stop service between Halifax and Vancouver, restoring a transcontinental link that allows travelers to fly from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific in a single hop. In addition, a new route between Winnipeg and St. John’s will give central Canadian travelers an efficient way to pair Newfoundland with time in Manitoba or Western Canada.
Capacity is also climbing on several existing domestic routes. WestJet is increasing frequencies between Winnipeg and Halifax and between Edmonton and Halifax, both popular corridors for visiting friends and relatives as well as summer vacationers heading to Nova Scotia and its neighboring provinces. In Atlantic Canada, additional flights between Calgary and Deer Lake will further strengthen access to Newfoundland and Labrador’s west coast, opening up easier itineraries for exploring Gros Morne National Park and the scenic Viking Trail.
Together, these moves add up to a more flexible domestic network. For visitors from abroad, it becomes simpler to choose one main gateway and then fan out across the country with shorter hops. For Canadians planning a staycation, the enhanced schedule puts more destinations within easy reach for long weekends or multi city holidays.
Halifax Emerges as a Gateway to Europe and the East Coast
Halifax is at the heart of WestJet’s latest strategic push. The airline is positioning the Nova Scotian capital as a key eastern hub that not only links Western Canada with the Atlantic region, but also serves as a springboard to Europe. The new domestic routes into Halifax are designed to feed a growing roster of transatlantic services, giving travelers from across Canada new one stop options to cross the ocean.
In its published schedules, WestJet is pairing the new Halifax domestic services with direct flights from the city to major European gateways including Barcelona, Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin, Edinburgh and London. The combination means a traveler from Saskatoon or Regina can check in once and connect through Halifax to reach Europe, avoiding the need to double back through more congested hubs such as Toronto or Montreal.
Looking ahead to summer 2026, Halifax’s international profile is set to grow further as WestJet adds new routes from the city to Madrid, Lisbon and Copenhagen. The airline is talking up Halifax as its Atlantic gateway, offering shorter flight times to many European capitals compared with routes originating further west. For leisure travelers, that translates into less time in the air and more time exploring historic city centers, coastal drives and wine regions.
The strengthening of Halifax’s role also benefits those whose Canadian getaway focuses on the East Coast itself. With more non stops into the city from across the country, it becomes easier to build itineraries that link Halifax with road trips through Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick, or with side trips by air to St. John’s, Sydney or Deer Lake.
Western Canada Gains New Regional Connections
While the headlines often focus on big city routes, many of WestJet’s newest flights are about better serving regional centers in Western Canada. Edmonton, in particular, is seeing a wave of new options that improve connectivity across the interior of British Columbia and the North. These developments are good news for travelers looking to combine urban stays with smaller city experiences and outdoor adventures.
From summer 2025, Edmonton will gain new seasonal non stop services to Kamloops and Prince George, both operating several times per week. These flights bring Alberta’s capital closer to key gateways for hiking, skiing and lake country in British Columbia, simplifying access to areas such as Sun Peaks, the Cariboo and the communities lining the Yellowhead Highway.
WestJet is also boosting capacity on routes between Edmonton and Yellowknife and between Edmonton and Nanaimo, shifting more of the flying to larger aircraft. That translates into more available seats during peak travel periods and a smoother booking experience for travelers planning summer or shoulder season trips to the Northwest Territories or Vancouver Island. For visitors building a broader Western Canada itinerary, it becomes easier to fly into one major hub such as Edmonton or Calgary and then add side trips to smaller destinations without long drives.
These new and upgraded services out of Edmonton reflect a wider trend within WestJet’s network strategy. Rather than funneling all traffic through a handful of mega hubs, the carrier is threading mid sized cities more tightly into the system, which can significantly cut travel times for both domestic and international visitors who want to see more than just the usual big name stops.
Sudbury, Sydney and Other Underserved Cities Step Into the Spotlight
One of the most notable shifts in WestJet’s upcoming schedules is the renewed focus on cities that have seen limited non stop options in recent years. Sudbury in northern Ontario and Sydney in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, are two standout examples. Both communities are gaining direct WestJet links to Calgary as part of the airline’s summer 2025 program, improving access to Western Canada and the broader global network.
In Sudbury’s case, the new Calgary service marks the first scheduled flights between the city and Western Canada. For travelers, that creates fresh opportunities to stitch together a trip that might begin with time in northern Ontario’s lake country and mining heritage sites, then continue on to the Rockies, Banff or Vancouver without backtracking through more congested hubs. It also positions Sudbury as a more attractive add on to itineraries that already include Toronto or Ottawa.
For Sydney, the twice weekly flights to Calgary provide the first ever non stop connection between Cape Breton and Western Canada. This development has significance beyond convenience. It provides easier access to one of Canada’s most scenic regions, renowned for the Cabot Trail, Celtic music traditions and coastal hiking. Travelers from Alberta and beyond will find it simpler to pair time in the Rockies with a second act on the Atlantic, all within the same trip.
The addition of these routes underscores how WestJet’s growth is not limited to major metropolitan areas. For vacation planners, the message is clear. Cities that once required awkward connections are now more directly plugged into the national grid, making it more appealing to build itineraries that venture off the beaten track to discover smaller communities and their surrounding landscapes.
Vancouver’s Summer Schedule Opens Southbound and Eastbound Doors
Vancouver, already a key gateway for both Canadian and international travelers, is also seeing its options expand. WestJet’s summer 2025 schedule from the city features a more robust lineup of domestic and transborder routes, adding new flavors to a West Coast getaway or a cross country tour.
One of the most eye catching additions is the launch of non stop service between Vancouver and Austin, Texas. Operating several times per week from May 2025, the route connects one of Canada’s most scenic coastal cities with a U.S. destination known for live music, food and tech. For travelers designing a North American itinerary, it is now possible to combine city breaks in Vancouver and Austin with time exploring British Columbia’s mountains and Texas Hill Country in a single journey.
WestJet is also adding seasonal non stops from Vancouver to Boston and Tampa. Daily service to Boston creates an appealing link between two harbor cities with strong cultural and historical identities, while weekly service to Tampa taps into demand for sun and sand holidays along Florida’s Gulf Coast. These routes help position Vancouver not just as a starting point for Canadian road trips and cruises to Alaska, but also as a flexible jumping off point for wider North American travels.
Domestically, the airline has outlined plans to grow capacity from Vancouver as part of a broader strategy to strengthen leisure connectivity across the country. For visitors, that could mean more options to pair a stay in Vancouver with inland destinations such as Calgary, Winnipeg or smaller communities in British Columbia without facing sold out flights at peak times.
Winnipeg’s New Role in Transatlantic and Sun Travel
Winnipeg has often been a through point rather than a destination in its own right, but WestJet’s latest announcements signal a stronger long term commitment to the Manitoba capital. The airline is both expanding sun routes and reintroducing transatlantic options that make Winnipeg a more versatile base for travelers planning Canadian and international trips.
Looking toward the winter 2025 and 2026 season, WestJet has detailed an expanded program of warm weather flights, including new service from Winnipeg to Liberia in Costa Rica and extended service to Cancun. These routes give Prairies travelers more nonstop choices for escaping the cold, while also making it easier for international visitors to tack on a tropical segment before or after time spent in central Canada.
The biggest news for Winnipeg, however, comes in the form of renewed non stop transatlantic access. Beginning in summer 2026, WestJet will launch flights between Winnipeg and Reykjavik in Iceland, restoring a direct European link that had been absent in recent years. For travelers, this provides a convenient way to bridge Canadian and European segments without going through larger hubs. Iceland’s role as a stopover destination means itineraries can be crafted to include time exploring Reykjavik and the island’s volcanic landscapes before continuing to continental Europe.
Within Canada, Winnipeg is also gaining new domestic seasonal service to London, Ontario, strengthening east west connectivity across the southern tier of the country. When paired with existing and expanding services to hubs such as Calgary, Edmonton and Halifax, the city becomes a more practical starting point for a Canadian road or rail journey that fans out across multiple provinces.
How Travelers Can Make the Most of WestJet’s Growing Network
For anyone planning a Canadian getaway over the next two years, WestJet’s new and expanded routes open up possibilities that did not exist just a season or two ago. The increased focus on secondary cities and regional links means it is easier to craft itineraries that go beyond the familiar Vancouver Toronto Montreal triangle and instead connect coastlines, cultural regions and wilderness areas in one flowing journey.
One strategy is to choose a primary hub such as Halifax, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver or Winnipeg and then look at the new spokes radiating out from that city. For example, a traveler might fly into Halifax, spend several days exploring Nova Scotia, then connect onwards to Saskatoon or Regina before continuing to Vancouver on a reinstated transcontinental route. Another option might see visitors begin in Calgary, head to Sudbury or Sydney for a taste of smaller city life, and then finish in Toronto or Ottawa before returning home.
These new services also make open jaw itineraries more appealing. Rather than flying in and out of the same airport, travelers can arrive in one city and depart from another, using WestJet’s domestic network to fill in the gaps. A trip might begin in Vancouver, continue through Edmonton and on to Yellowknife, then swing back through Winnipeg before finishing in Halifax with a side trip to St. John’s. With more non stops in place, such multi leg journeys become more practical and time efficient.
Finally, the strengthened links between Canada and Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico and the southern United States mean that a Canadian holiday no longer needs to stand alone. Travelers can combine cross country exploration with a beach finale in Costa Rica, a music filled stay in Austin or a cultural city break in Madrid or Lisbon, flying WestJet the whole way. For those willing to plan ahead and watch for seasonal schedule changes, the new network gives unprecedented flexibility to design trips that match personal interests, from hiking and heritage to food, music and coastal scenery.