CALGARY — WestJet’s brand new 2018 summer schedule, released today, strengthens the airline’s expansion plans as it develops a global route network with new daily direct flights into Paris, between Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) and Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in Paris.

All flights will be operated on WestJet’s Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft. New Halifax flights into Gatwick Airport (LGW) in London have also been added. One-way intro fares from Halifax to Paris or London are available now for $199 all-in.

“As the carrier with the most transatlantic flights from Halifax, we are thrilled to announce our first foray onto the European mainland,” said Ed Sims, WestJet Executive Vice-President, Commercial.

Starting May 31, WestJet will begin service with daily flights between Halifax and Paris. On April 29, WestJet will begin daily service between Halifax and London (Gatwick). In addition, WestJet will add one flight to Halifax from Calgary for a total of 15 weekly flights.

WestJet currently serves 16 cities from the Halifax International Airport, up from six in 2013, including 10 Canadian, two transborder, one international and three European destinations; at peak summer schedule, the airline will operate more than 25 flights per week. Since 2012, the airline’s traffic from Halifax has grown by more than 160 per cent.

“Venturing to London and now Paris is an indication of our ambitious growth plans as we move towards becoming a global network carrier. This is an investment that will help launch new flights in the future and further expand our presence in YHZ – a key driver in economic and employment growth,” said Sims.

“We’re delighted with WestJet’s new routes to and from Halifax, as France and the U.K. are among the largest tourism markets and most important trading partners in Europe. Strengthening ties with strategic markets in Europe is good for inbound tourism, trade, investment and immigration,” says Joyce Carter, President and CEO of Halifax International Airport Authority. “This announcement demonstrates confidence in our community, our region and our future as Halifax Stanfield connects travellers to and from Europe and beyond. WestJet’s newest destinations from Halifax also tie us to our past when you consider our strong European roots, including our rich Acadian culture in the Maritimes.”

To Paris, daily flights will leave Hafalix at 10:55 p.m., arriving at 10 a.m. the next day. On the return leg, flights leave Paris at 11:20 a.m., returning to Halifax at 1:35 p.m.

To London, flights leave Halifax at 10:35 p.m., arriving at 8:21 a.m. the next day starting April 29. On the return leg, flights leave London at 9:50 a.m., arriving in Halifax at 1 p.m.

The intro one-way all in fares from $199 must be booked by Feb. 5, 2018 for travel on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays between May 31 and Oct. 27, 2018.

Here are more routes from the newly released summer 2018 schedule:

• The addition of almost 200 flights to WestJet’s hubs including 60 to Vancouver, 72 to Calgary and 28 to Toronto.
• New nonstop four-time weekly service between Calgary and Whitehorse.
• Additional flights from Vancouver to a number of domestic and international destinations including Cancun, Cabo San Lucas, Edmonton, Kelowna, Ottawa, Regina, Fort St. John and Victoria.
• Additional flights from Calgary to a number of transborder and sun destinations including Nashville, Cancun, Dallas / Ft. Worth and Las Vegas.
• Additional flights from Calgary to a number of domestic destinations including Nanaimo, Edmonton, Halifax, Kelowna, Fort McMurray, Windsor, Grand Prairie, Montreal, Abbotsford, Penticton and Victoria.
• An increase of 24 weekly flights between Vancouver and Calgary for a total of 16 times daily, with hourly service in both directions (top of the hour from Vancouver, and bottom of the hour from Calgary).
• Additional flights from Edmonton to a number of transborder and domestic destinations including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Kelowna, Fort McMurray and Saskatoon.
• An increase of 14 weekly flights between Edmonton and Calgary for a total of 12 times daily.
• Additional flights from Toronto to a number of sun destinations including Cancun, Montego Bay, Nassau, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana and Fort Myers.
• Additional flights from Toronto to a number of Canadian destinations including Ottawa, Montreal, Saskatoon and Victoria.
• An increase of nine new weekly flights between Toronto and Ottawa for a total of 13 times daily.
• An increase of nine weekly flights between Toronto and Montreal for a total of 14 times daily.