CALGARY— WestJet (WS), headquartered in Calgary, has unveiled its 2025/2026 winter schedule with the most sun destinations in its history. The carrier will serve 62 warm-weather destinations across Latin America, the Caribbean, and the U.S., including five new cities.
The airline will operate from major Canadian hubs such as Toronto (YYZ), Calgary (YYC), Vancouver (YVR), Montreal (YUL), Winnipeg (YWG), and Quebec City (YQB), with over 4,300 weekly departures to 106 destinations this winter. While capacity remains steady, network frequency will rise by 3% year-over-year.
Photo: Mackenzie Cole | FlickrWestJet New Destinations and Routes
WestJet’s updated schedule introduces five new international destinations: Panama City (PTY), Guadalajara (GDL), Tepic – Nayarit (TPQ), Havana (HAV), and Managua (MGA).
These new routes primarily operate from Calgary (YYC), Toronto (YYZ), and Montreal (YUL), further cementing WestJet’s role as a leading Canadian leisure carrier.
This strategic move also includes Mexico City (MEX) operating through its first winter as a year-round destination.
Overall, the airline will run 305 routes this winter, optimizing its fleet by reconfiguring former Sunwing and Swoop aircraft to WestJet’s unified cabin layout.
The Latin American and Caribbean network will see a 6% seat capacity increase, spotlighting growth in vacation hotspots like Costa Rica, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic.
WestJet Plane at Tulum Airport; Photo- Bryce Drohan WestJet’s winter schedule spans new and returning seasonal routes across Canada, bolstering access to sun destinations:
New Destinations:
- Calgary (YYC) – Panama City (PTY): 4x weekly (Dec 13–Apr 25)
- Calgary (YYC) – Guadalajara (GDL): 2x weekly (Dec 7–Apr 12)
- Calgary (YYC) – Tepic (TPQ): 1x weekly (Dec 13–Apr 25)
- Montreal (YUL) – Managua (MGA): 1x weekly (Dec 18–Apr 2)
- Toronto (YYZ) – Havana (HAV): 2x weekly (Dec 18–Apr 23)
New Seasonal Routes:
- Calgary (YYC) – Cozumel (CZM): 1x weekly
- Calgary (YYC) – Puerto Plata (POP): 1x weekly
- Vancouver (YVR) – Liberia (LIR): 1x weekly
- Montreal (YUL) – Samana (AZS): 2x weekly
- Quebec City (YQB) – Montego Bay (MBJ): 1x weekly
- Thunder Bay (YQT) – Punta Cana (PUJ): 1x weekly
- Winnipeg (YWG) – Liberia (LIR): 1x weekly
These routes are scheduled to begin between early December 2025 and mid-January 2026, running until April.
Photo- FlyingJay Photography; Wikimedia CommonsAsia Expansion
WestJet is also increasing international connectivity beyond sun markets. Daily service between Calgary (YYC) and Tokyo Narita (NRT) will commence this winter, up from three flights per week.
This upgrade supports an 18% increase in intercontinental traffic and bolsters Calgary’s position as WestJet’s global gateway.
With this growth, WestJet is aligning with evolving passenger demand and leisure preferences, offering both low-fare flight options and bundled vacation packages via Sunwing Vacations Group.
Photo: By BriYYZ from Toronto, Canada – Westjet Boeing 737-700 (W), CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25906507Executive Remarks
Gloria De León Zubieta, Minister of Tourism of Panama, emphasized the route’s broader impact: “It’s more than a flight—it connects Panama with a high-value market like Canada and supports our strategic goal to boost international tourism.”
Javier García Bejos, CEO of Aeropuertos Mexicanos (AME), hailed this route as the result of years of collaboration with WestJet (WS), leveraging a newly upgraded regional airport that connects travelers to key destinations like Sayulita, Punta Mita, and Tequila.
Governor Miguel Ángel Navarro Quintero of Nayarit echoed the sentiment, calling the route historic: “It’s the first direct connection between Canada and Nayarit, paving the way for greater tourism, cultural exchange, and economic opportunity.”
Raúl Revuelta Musalem, CEO of Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico, stated that this addition enhances the airport’s status as a Canadian gateway, supporting Jalisco’s expanding tourism and trade sectors.
In parallel with its passenger expansion, WestJet Cargo is scaling operations across several new routes. Amanda Ierfino, Vice-President of Sales & Cargo, highlighted the winter schedule as a turning point: “We anticipate strong demand on lanes like Guadalajara, Managua, Samaná, and Havana, especially in sectors like electronics, seafood, and premium perishables.”
The new daily Tokyo service—though not in Latin America—also stands out for its cargo potential, underscoring WestJet’s evolving role in global trade.
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