WestJet has announced a new non-stop route between Calgary (YYC) and São Paulo (GRU), a headline-grabbing move that marks both a milestone and a meaningful network expansion.
Starting in November 2026, WestJet will operate the only non-stop flight between Western Canada and South America, flying three times weekly between Calgary and São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport.
Just as notably, São Paulo becomes WestJet’s 100th non-stop destination from Calgary, reinforcing how central YYC has become to the airline’s long-haul strategy.
Route Details
Subject to final government approvals, the schedule currently looks like this:
- Calgary (YYC) → São Paulo (GRU): three times weekly, departing at 22:45 and arriving at 15:35 the following day, starting November 8, 2026.
- São Paulo (GRU) → Calgary (YYC): three times weekly, departing at 19:40 and arriving at 05:15 the following day, starting November 9, 2026.
Flights will be operated by WestJet’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, featuring the airline’s long-haul premium product, including 20 lie-flat business class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, along with premium economy and economy cabins.
Why This Route Matters
This route gives Western Canadians their first-ever non-stop access to South America, cutting out the usual detours through Toronto, the U.S., or Europe.
From a network perspective, São Paulo is a logical choice: it’s the largest city in the Americas, with a metro population north of 20 million, and serves as a major hub for LATAM Airlines.
WestJet is clearly positioning São Paulo (GRU) as a connectivity play. Pending approvals and system integration, passengers should eventually be able to connect onward to more than 30 destinations across South America, including Rio de Janeiro, Lima, Santiago, Buenos Aires, and Montevideo.
At the moment, those onward options aren’t showing in WestJet’s booking engine yet, but the intent is clear.
A Quick Local Take from My Colleague Zach
In our Platinum membership community, my colleague Zach described São Paulo as a criminally underrated city, and not just a place you pass through on the way elsewhere, but a destination worth building a trip around.
He flagged the Mercado Municipal (Mercadão) as a must-visit for first-timers, particularly if oversized mortadella sandwiches are your thing.
Beyond that, he pointed to the city’s depth: a laid-back afternoon in Ibirapuera Park, architectural heavy-hitters like MASP, and neighbourhoods such as Rua Augusta or Vila Madalena depending on whether you’re leaning toward nightlife or something more relaxed.
Put simply, if São Paulo has always been “just the connection,” this new route might be a good excuse to give the city a second look.
WestJet’s second South America destination
São Paulo becomes WestJet’s second destination in South America, following the earlier announcement of Toronto–Medellín service. Together, the two routes point to a broader, if still cautious, push into the region.
Beyond passengers, the Calgary–São Paulo route also adds cargo capacity, supporting trade between Canada and Brazil in areas like perishables, pharmaceuticals, and industrial goods.
How to Book with Points
For now, the most straightforward option will be redeeming WestJet points, where redemptions typically land around 1 cent per point.
Member Exclusive fares are also worth watching, as they can occasionally push the value higher.
It’s also worth checking partner programs once the route fully loads. Historically, availability through Delta SkyMiles and Flying Blue tends to skew economy-heavy, but Flying Blue may be the more interesting option to monitor, especially given the recent shift to a 1:1 transfer rate from Amex Membership Rewards in Canada.
Conclusion
WestJet’s new Calgary–São Paulo route is more than a symbolic 100th destination. It gives Western Canada its first direct link to South America, strengthens Calgary’s role as a long-haul hub, and opens up meaningful connectivity across the continent.
If the LATAM connections materialize as planned, this could quietly become one of WestJet’s most strategically useful international routes.
This story originally appeared on princeoftravel
