WestJet is padding out its summer 2026 schedule with four new domestic routes and a sizeable bump in east–west capacity across Canada, giving smaller communities better access to its hubs – and to the rest of the world.
The latest announcement centres on new non-stop flights from Calgary (YYC) to Sault Ste. Marie (YAM), North Bay (YYV), and Campbell River (YBL), plus a new link between Edmonton (YEG) and Terrace (YXT). On top of that, Halifax (YHZ) and Deer Lake (YDF) are getting a notable capacity boost, which should make cross-country trips a bit less of a connect-three-times adventure.
New Domestic Routes from Calgary (YYC) and Edmonton (YEG)
Beginning in May and June 2026, WestJet is rolling out four new domestic routes designed to tie regional communities more closely into its Western Canadian hubs.
From Calgary, the airline will launch non-stop service to Sault Ste. Marie (YAM) and North Bay (YYB) in Northern Ontario. Both routes will operate twice weekly on Boeing 737 aircraft, with flights to Sault Ste. Marie beginning June 12, 2026, and North Bay following a week later on June 19.
Calgary will also gain a daily Dash 8 Q400 service to Campbell River (YBL) on Vancouver Island, starting May 15, 2026.
Meanwhile, Edmonton (YEG) is getting new non-stop seasonal service to Terrace (YXT) in Northern British Columbia, also operated by Q400, with twice-weekly flights beginning May 19, 2026. Together, these additions fill in some stubborn gaps in the domestic map, particularly for travellers who have been stuck stitching together awkward routings through larger hubs.
Northern Ontario Ties Into WestJet’s Calgary Hub
The new flights from Calgary to Sault Ste. Marie (YAM) and North Bay (YYB) plug two Northern Ontario communities directly into WestJet’s largest hub.
For local residents, that means one-stop access to much of Western Canada and to long-haul routes across the Americas, Europe, and Asia via Calgary. For Canadians in Alberta and across the West, it becomes easier to reach friends, family, cottages, and smaller centres in Northern Ontario without bouncing through multiple airports.
Local leaders in Sault Ste. Marie and North Bay have already framed the new routes as a win for both tourism and economic development, underscoring how important a direct western link is for residents and businesses.
Calgary (YYC) and Campbell River (YBL), A New Gateway to North Vancouver Island
Daily service between Calgary and Campbell River is likely to be a hit with travellers looking beyond the usual Victoria and Nanaimo loop on Vancouver Island.
For visitors from Alberta and beyond, this creates a straightforward hop into one of BC’s best regions for fishing, outdoor adventures, and coastal getaways. For residents and businesses in and around Campbell River, the route improves access to the broader WestJet network for both leisure and resource-sector travel.
City and airport officials in Campbell River describe the new service as a significant milestone for the local airport and a vote of confidence in the region’s growth as a destination. Translation: expect more tourists, but at least getting there will be easier.
Edmonton (YEG) and Terrace (YXT) Strengthening the Resource Corridor
The new Edmonton to Terrace link is less about beach holidays and more about Western Canada’s energy and industrial footprint.
Terrace and the surrounding region act as a gateway for Northern BC’s resource projects, while Edmonton is a key hub for energy, logistics, and connecting traffic. Reliable non-stop service between the two supports supply chains, shortens travel days for workers and business travellers, and reinforces Terrace’s role as a regional transportation hub.
Airport representatives in both Edmonton and Terrace have flagged the route as an important piece of infrastructure for the energy and industrial sectors, rather than just another seasonal leisure flight.
Bigger Domestic Capacity in Halifax (YHZ) and Atlantic Canada
Beyond the four new routes, WestJet is also leaning further into east-west connectivity, particularly via Halifax.
At Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ), the airline plans to increase domestic capacity by almost 50%, with more flights to Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Calgary, Toronto, Regina, and Saskatoon. WestJet is also doubling its capacity between Deer Lake (YDF) in Newfoundland and Labrador and Calgary.
For Atlantic Canada, this move sits alongside WestJet’s previously announced summer 2026 international expansion from Halifax, including new flights to Copenhagen, Madrid, Lisbon, and Detroit. The strategy is clear: strengthen Halifax as a domestic and transatlantic gateway, and make it easier for Western Canadians to access the east coast without multiple connections.
Halifax airport officials are already pitching the additional capacity as a boost for tourism and trade, and as a way to support WestJet’s expanded European services. For travellers, the practical outcome is more non-stop options, more one-stop connections, and hopefully a bit less hair-pulling when trying to find reasonable flights to or from Atlantic Canada in peak season.
What This Means for Travellers and Points Collectors
For people in smaller markets like Sault Ste. Marie, North Bay, Campbell River, Terrace, and Deer Lake, these changes mean more direct access to Western hubs and better one-stop connectivity to the rest of Canada and beyond.
Cross-country trips that used to involve two or three connections should get noticeably simpler, and there will be more chances to earn and redeem WestJet points or fixed-value points on sensible itineraries instead of contorted routings.
Conclusion
WestJet’s latest summer 2026 update is a very Canada-focused play, with four new domestic routes, a hefty boost in Halifax capacity, and stronger ties between regional airports and the airline’s major hubs in Calgary and Edmonton.
If you live in or travel to Sault Ste. Marie, North Bay, Campbell River, Terrace, Deer Lake, or Atlantic Canada more broadly, you will soon have more non-stop options and smoother connections across the country.
And if you are working with WestJet points or fixed-value points currencies, you will have a few more ways to stitch together efficient, Canada-wide trips next summer.
This story originally appeared on princeoftravel
