Canadian carrier WestJet will debut a seasonal non-stop service from Calgary to Rome aboard its state-of-the-art Dreamliner next spring. The new service, which is subject to government approvals, is scheduled to begin on May 2, 2020.
“WestJet’s continued international expansion from our home in Calgary reinforces our commitment to investing in the city as an international aviation hub,” said Ed Sims, WestJet president and CEO. “With travel via Dreamliner and an elapsed travel time as opposed to connecting through eastern hubs, this flight positions us as a preferable transatlantic option for a wonderful summer holiday in beautiful and historic Rome.”
“We are extremely proud to welcome WestJet to Rome Fiumicino Airport as its new destination in Europe and first in Italy,” said Fausto Palombelli, chief commercial officer of Aeroporti di Roma. “Rome Fiumicino…is constantly developing as the main Italian hub and preferred gateway to the Mediterranean and southeast Europe. The new WestJet flight is the answer to an increasing demand between Canada and Italy, that has been growing beyond the capacity introduced into the market. Flying non-stop to Calgary will allow Italian customers to reach and discover a destination never served before and provide preferential access to central and western Canada and the US.”
The new service between Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino (FCO) and Calgary International Airport (YYC) will operate three-times-weekly in peak season. Flights are timed for convenient connections across WestJet’s network in North America, including to and from Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
The airline also announced it is adding more than 300 Dreamliner departures, an increase of more than 52 percent over 2019, to key transatlantic Dreamliner routes out of Calgary including:
- Calgary-London (Gatwick) six-times weekly starting April 4, 2020, increases to daily service on April 14, 2020
- Calgary-Paris starting March 12, three-times-weekly, increases to four-times-weekly on April 6 and to six times weekly on June 2, 2020 (an additional two weekly flights over summer 2019)
- Calgary-Dublin resumes twice-weekly service on May 3, 2020, and increases to three-times-weekly flights on May 30, 2020
“After the success we had on our Dreamliner routes out of Calgary in summer 2019, we have added 200,000 more seats and lengthened the operating dates on our seasonal routes,” explained Sims. “The reception of these flights reinforces that we are providing services that were long overlooked for travellers from the west. Our investments in Alberta are driving economic growth, boosting our visitor economy, enabling businesses and communities to grow and unlock their potential while connecting families and friends.”
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