In the past few days, WestJet inadvertently revealed that six additional European cities will join its map. They are Cardiff, Copenhagen, Glasgow, Lisbon, Madrid, and Ponta Delgada, of which only Glasgow has previously seen its frames. Keflavik, which is already served by the carrier, will get another route. All these places will have flights from Toronto or Halifax.
It is expected that routes to these cities will be announced shortly—very likely this week, and probably on Tuesday, November 18. This includes Cardiff and Glasgow, which will be served from 
Toronto. Not only did WestJet accidentally reveal these cities, but Cardiff disclosed that the carrier is coming. It added a new route page showing WestJet to Toronto, but it was quickly taken down. It’ll be back soon.
Cardiff To Have Canada Flights After 18-Year Gap
When writing, the details—start date, frequency, fares, schedule, etc.—are currently unknown. However, the route will be flown during the summer aboard the Boeing 737 MAX 8. It’ll cover 2,993 nautical miles (5,543 km) each way. While it may change, it’ll become WestJet’s new longest European service on narrowbody equipment. It is bound to make my celebratory Weekly Routes article (see the most recent edition).
The Welsh capital previously had flights to Canada until 2008. Zoom operated, although Air Transat—which is increasingly expanding across the Atlantic—did so until 2004. WestJet will provide Cardiff’s sole long-haul operation, with passengers obviously able to connect to multiple cities in Canada and the US. It’ll appeal to people flying to/from South Wales and the closer parts of England.
The airport’s last regularly served long-haul route was operated by Qatar Airways from Doha. Flights existed between 2018 and 2020. It was attracted by high financial incentives and perhaps other risk-sharing agreements. However, a source tells me that Wales is now only able to offer a discount on fees/charges and provide marketing support. As such, WestJet’s deal is likely far lower than Qatar Airways’. Still, it was sufficient for the route to materialize.
Then There Is Glasgow
WestJet is no stranger to Glasgow. It was the carrier’s second European city after Dublin. It flew to Glasgow between 2015 and 2019, when all flights were from Halifax aboard the 737-700. WestJet returned to Glasgow in 2022, when it flew from both Halifax and Toronto on the 737 MAX 8. Thereafter, it shifted to Edinburgh, like multiple other airlines. It serves the Scottish capital from Calgary, Halifax, and Toronto.
It is expected to fly from Toronto to Glasgow on a summer seasonal basis. Perhaps not coincidentally, Cirium Diio data shows that it has already reduced its frequency from Toronto to Edinburgh from a high of 11 weekly flights last summer to a daily operation next summer. United Airlines is also returning to Glasgow. Due to this, it has halved its Newark-Edinburgh flights.
WestJet will compete directly with Air Transat to Glasgow. It plans a six-weekly service on the Airbus A321LR next year, down from daily in 2025. Historically, up to three carriers operated simultaneously from Toronto. Other airlines included Air Canada (switched to Edinburgh), FlyGlobespan, Sunwing (it was scheduled, but it is unclear if it operated), Thomas Cook, and Zoom. Four of these airlines no longer exist.
What About The Other Cities?
It is currently unknown whether these cities will be served from Toronto or Halifax. Most may be flown from the Nova Scotia capital. After all, WestJet’s presence from Halifax to Europe has been growing strongly recently. It serves Amsterdam, Barcelona, Dublin, Edinburgh, London Gatwick, and Paris CDG, all aboard the 737 MAX. Flights to Amsterdam and Barcelona started in 2025, the same year that they resumed to Paris.
Given Lisbon’s chronic lack of slots, service to the Portuguese capital is interesting. TAP Air Portugal has publicly stated its inability to meaningfully grow there, while JetBlue has stated it may sue due to its inability to secure slots, at least in the required quantity or at suitable times.
As Lisbon-Toronto is served by Air Canada, Air Transat, and TAP, my money’s on Halifax. In the 12 months to September 2025, booking data shows 11,000 round-trip local passengers. Not a lot in itself, but it is Halifax’s largest unserved European market. Traffic is double what Barcelona had before nonstop flights started to Spain’s ever-popular destination.
