WestJet Brings Toronto Back to Glasgow

WestJet has returned to Glasgow Airport with direct flights to Toronto Pearson, restoring the route for the first time since 2022. The service will run four times a week using Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Glasgow Airport said the launch strengthens transatlantic links between Scotland and Canada, with tourism, business travel, family visits and onward connections all expected to benefit this summer.

The first flight left with a send-off from the airport’s airfield team, marking WestJet’s return to Scotland’s largest city. The airline first started services at Glasgow in 2015. Toronto is North America’s fifth largest city and a major hub for onward journeys across Canada through WestJet’s wider network, giving Scottish travellers more options beyond Ontario and into other Canadian regions.

Canada is one of Scotland’s important international tourism markets, with visitors spending £135 million in 2024. Around 4.8 million Canadians also claim Scottish ancestry, which gives the route a clear family and heritage angle. Glasgow Airport said the service comes at a significant time, with the city preparing to host the Commonwealth Games again later this year in Glasgow.

The route gives passengers direct access to Toronto’s museums, waterfront, neighbourhoods, food scene and major events, while Niagara Falls is within reach for a short side trip. It also helps travellers continue across Canada via Toronto Pearson. For Canadian visitors, Glasgow becomes an easier entry point for Scotland’s music, architecture, west coast trips, Highland routes and wider rail links north.

WestJet’s return gives Scottish passengers a more direct way to reach Canada without building the journey around another airport. It gives Scotland another direct North American link and makes Toronto more practical for holidays, work trips and visiting relatives. With US immigration pre-clearance also available at Toronto Pearson, the airport can work as a smoother stepping stone for wider North American journeys.