A pretty big announcement today from WestJet as they revealed their first service to continental Europe. Paris is the next city in the airline's global expansion with flights from Halifax launching on May 31st. The new daily route will be flown with a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft and introductory fares start at $199 each way. Flights depart Halifax at 10:55pm and arrive at CDG the next day at 10am. Return flights leave Paris at 11:20am and arrive into Halifax at 1:35pm
The new route makes a lot of sense in the terms of WestJet's partnership with Air France KLM. Between the three airlines, they now serve most major Canadian cities from coast to coast with flights to the European airlines' SkyTeam hubs of Amsterdam and Paris. One would also think that this will pave the way for future flights to the City of Lights from other Canadian cities once the Boeing 787's they have ordered start flying sometime next year. WestJet has even mentioned Paris as one of the cities on their radar for the new long haul wide body aircraft. By having an established outstation there and experience from the new Halifax flight it's almost inevitable we'll see one or more other flights to Paris in the near future.
Along with the news of the new Paris service from Halifax, WestJet is also moving their St. John's service to London over to Halifax making YHZ their quasi east coast gateway to Europe. The flight to London will operate daily starting on April 29.
