by Jen Mallia
Last updated: 1:20 PM ET, Tue November 18, 2025
WestJet announced several routes flying out of Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ), buttressing the airport’s position as “Canada’s Atlantic Gateway.”
In addition to a new Halifax-Detroit (DTW) route that will launch in the summer of 2026, the airline announced three transatlantic routes. Pending government approval, WestJet passengers will be able to fly directly from Halifax to Lisbon (LIS), Madrid (MAD), and Copenhagen (CPH), starting in May, 2026.
| "WestJet is proud to invest in Halifax and to help open Europe to Canadians, and Canada to the world," said Samantha Taylor, WestJet Group Executive Vice-President and Chief Experience Officer. "With shorter flight times, competitive fares and direct access to Europe's cultural heartlands, Halifax is uniquely positioned to serve as Canada's Atlantic gateway." |
The Detroit flight will enable Canadians to access Delta’s network more easily at their hub. “We're excited to offer travelers even more options through our partnership with WestJet,” says Wayne County Airport Authority CEO Chad Newton. “The airline's continued investment at DTW strengthens Detroit's position as a vital international gateway and connects our customers directly to Halifax for the first time since 2014."
On top of the three new European connections announced today, WestJet announced it will resume summer seasonal flying on all existing transatlantic routes from Halifax including service to Barcelona, Amsterdam, Dublin, Edinburgh, London Gatwick and Paris.
WestJet is expected to announce its remaining schedule for the Summer 2026 season, including additional domestic routes and frequency increases, in early 2026.
| Route | Frequency | Starting date |
| Halifax-Lisbon* | 4x weekly | May 1, 2026 |
| Halifax-Madrid | 4x weekly | May 15, 2026 |
| Halifax-Copenhagen | 4x weekly | May 28, 2026 |
| Halifax-Detroit | 7x weekly | May 18, 2026 |
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