by Jen Mallia
Last updated: 5:05 PM ET, Tue May 19, 2026
Three new routes are taking off across the Atlantic for the summer season, making European trips and connections a little easier for passengers in Ontario and the East Coast.
Halifax to Madrid
The gateway of Halifax Stanfield (YHZ) continues to grow, as WestJet launched a flight to Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD). According to Simple Flying, only about 3,000 people flew round-trip between the Maritime hub and the Spanish capital last year, so the bulk of travellers are expected to be passengers connecting from other cities, although the direct flight (the only one that operates non-stop between Halifax and Madrid) is expected to lead to increased passenger numbers from the Atlantic provinces.
The route is served three to four times a week aboard the 174-seat Boeing 737 MAX 8. WestJet presently has two other flights to Spain, from Calgary and Toronto Pearson to Barcelona.
Toronto to Glasgow
WestJet is also set to launch another route, flying from Toronto Pearson to Glasgow. The flight was previously operated in 2022. The reintroduction of the route for WestJet capitalizes on the popularity of Scotland’s second city, which according to OAG, has 109,000 seats to/from North America in Q3 2026 — the most since the pandemic. The route will operate four times weekly aboard WestJet’s 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
Ottawa to London Gatwick
Air Transat, meanwhile, launched a second option for Ottawa passengers flying to London. Presently, the capitals are linked by an Air Canada flight that operates year-round into London Heathrow. Air Transat previously served the market in 2014. It will now operate seasonally, three times weekly, into London Gatwick aboard its 199-seat A321LR.
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