and WestJet have expanded their codeshare agreement, with the two making adjustments after the former’s plans to launch direct flights to Toronto, Canada.
Codeshare centered around Toronto
Virgin Atlantic and WestJet
will expand their codeshare agreement on March 30, coinciding with the date that the former airline will launch its direct services from London Heathrow Airport
(LHR) to Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ).
According to the British carrier, the expanded codeshare agreement will expand connections from the United Kingdom (UK) to 13 Canadian gateways via Toronto Pearson. This includes Calgary International Airport (YYC) and Edmonton International Airport (YEG), two major airports within WestJet’s network.
Photo: Kevin Hackert | Shutterstock
“Virgin Atlantic and WestJet are delighted to announce an expanded codeshare agreement, strengthening vital business, leisure, and visiting friends-and-family connections between Canada and the UK and key connecting regions, including India.”
Virgin Atlantic pointed out that for additional customer convenience, it will base its operations at Toronto Pearson at Terminal 3, where WestJet is also based. In addition, it will work with the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to enable smooth connections to the cities involved in the codeshare agreement.
Related
WestJet And Virgin Atlantic Expand Codeshare Offering Canadian Travelers More International Options
Destinations in India, Africa, and the Middle East are part of the deal.
Returning after more than a decade
Virgin Atlantic pointed out that its flights between London Heathrow and Toronto-Pearson
will mark the airline’s return to Canada since it left the market more than a decade ago.
Data from the aviation analytics company Cirium‘s Diio Mi airline planning tool showed that in June 2012, Virgin Atlantic launched direct flights from London Heathrow to Vancouver International Airport
(YVR) with the Airbus A340-300
, although some of the flights were operated by the A340-600.
Photo: The Global Guy | Shutterstock
The summer seasonal itinerary, which typically lasted between May and October, continued until October 2014, when Virgin Atlantic exited the route. In June 2024, as the airline celebrated its 40th anniversary, it announced that it would re-enter the Canadian market by launching daily flights between London Heathrow and Toronto Pearson starting March 30. Initial fares started at £490 ($617).
Cirium’s Diio Mi indicated that the daily flights could be reduced to four weekly in December, November, and January 2026, with Virgin Atlantic potentially adjusting the schedule due to weaker demand for travel to Canada during the winter months.
Related
Virgin Atlantic To Operate In Canada After 10 Years With Daily Toronto-London Heathrow Flight
Flights will begin in March 2025.
At Calgary’s expense
However, while Virgin Atlantic said that the two airlines are announcing an “expanded codeshare agreement,” the pair already had an extensive codeshare agreement underpinned by connections in Calgary
.
In April 2024, Virgin Atlantic and WestJet codeshared on 160 weekly flights from Calgary to 14 destinations, including WestJet’s daily flights to London Heathrow. The remaining routes covered intra-Canadian connections, which are displayed below.
Photo: Great Circle Map
As flagged by AeroRoutes, with Virgin Atlantic launching flights to Toronto Pearson, the codeshare agreement will revolve around both airlines’ itineraries at that airport, enabling Virgin Atlantic customers to connect to onward WestJet flights to nine Canadian airports in April. However, the map below only shows the initial codeshare network out of Toronto Pearson.
Photo: Great Circle Map
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