WestJet adding daily connection to Europe from St. John's

St. John's International Airport is expanding further into Europe, and partnering with WestJet to bring passengers to Dublin, London and Paris starting this spring.

Commuters will now be able to catch direct flights from YYT to London-Gatwick four days a week beginning April 28. Flights to Dublin, twice a week, and Paris, once a week, will takeoff beginning May 18. All flights will run until October.

Flights to Dublin and Paris will leave St. John's at 12:30 a.m. NT.

"I cannot begin to explain what this means for our province [and] the enormous impacts it will have," Premier Andrew Furey said Monday.

"We want to build on that and continue to grow the connectivity to our province from a tourist perspective, from a tourist industry perspective and from an overall economic driver."

Furey said he's also excited by the cultural connections that can foster between Newfoundland and Labrador and Ireland as a result of the flight — and new connections that could spawn with a connection to France.

"That airport is a major global hub. From there, you can go anywhere in the entire world," he said. "[Paris] is truly a gateway."

WATCH |  The St. John's to Europe flight strategy hasn't always been perfect, says Westjet VP: 

‘We believe in this province,’ says WestJet VP as YYT gets flights to London, Dublin and Paris

12 days ago

Duration 1:06

From May until October, there will be one direct WestJet flight a day to a European destination departing from the St. John’s International Airport. The airline’s vice-president of external affairs, Andy Gibbons, explains the airline’s strategy.

In an email to CBC News on Monday evening, a representative of the Department of Tourism said $3.75 million was made available to the province's airports this year to help expand routes.

"There has been no specific marketing budget earmarked for these routes, but the marketing strategy will be integrated into the department's marketing budget," the email said, adding the province can't get into specifics on the airport's deal with WestJet on the new routes.

"However, it is important to note that the success of the route will determine what will be paid. Our hope is that this route is so successful that there will be no financial support needed."

WestJet brought back the return of flights from St. John's to Europe through London-Gatwick earlier this year. 

Andy Gibbons, vice-president of external affairs with WestJet, called the route a great success and said the company is excited to expand in St. John's.

WestJet previously operated a flight to Dublin from St. John's, but that was suspended in 2018. Gibbons assured this time around will be different, driven by the province's work to expand travel.

"The difference is that everyone is engaged and has a stake in its success. And that is the difference that made the Gatwick season such a strong success and that is the difference that's going to make these additional flights a success," he said.

St. John's International Airport CEO Dennis Hogan said the Paris route will mark an exciting first for the airport — the first scheduled service from YYT to continental Europe.

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