WestJet to fly Dublin-Toronto service from next May

Canadian carrier WestJet will fly between Dublin and Toronto next summer in a further boost to ailing air travel.

The airline and Dublin Airport owner, DAA, confirmed on Wednesday that WestJet would launch the service with four flights a week from May 15th, 2022, rising to daily on June 2nd. WestJet will deploy its new Boeing 737 Max aircraft on the route.

John Weatherill, WestJet chief commercial officer, predicted that passengers would seek affordable flights between Europe and Canada as air travel demand increased post Covid.

"These flights will further strengthen business and leisure ties between Canada and Ireland and will increase connectivity between two key markets," he said.

Boeing forecasts aviation recovery within three years

---

Ryanair carried 10.6m passengers last month

---

Avolon targets air cargo market in aircraft conversion deal

---

Sales of electric cars rise as industry calls for incentives to remain

---

Vincent Harrison, Dublin Airport managing director, welcomed the news. "We have been working closely with WestJet since 2014 to grow its business and build a substantial base here in Dublin," he said.

Mr Harrison added that the new service would further strengthen ties between the two countries.

WestJet launched in 1996 with three planes and 250 workers serving five destinations.

Before Covid-19 struck, the airline had 180 aircraft, 14,000 staff and flew to more than 100 destinations in 23 countries.

Last week Spanish carrier Vueling announced that it would fly from Cork and Dublin to Paris Orly Airport next summer.

Meanwhile, Ryanair confirmed it would restore full pre-Covid schedules from Cork and Shannon airports in 2022.

During the pandemic, the Government imposed some of the tightest restraints on travel anywhere in Europe, leaving Irish aviation trailing its peers as recovery began this year.