New flights will begin in May and June

Canadian airline WestJet is set to strengthen air links between Portugal and Canada this year, with two new direct routes launching from Lisbon and Ponta Delgada.

The first connection, linking Lisbon to Halifax, in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, will begin on May 1, operating four flights a week. The second route will connect Ponta Delgada, in the Azores, to Toronto, starting on June 12, with two weekly flights, the airline announced.

Flights from Lisbon will depart at 6.30am, arriving in Halifax at 9.20am local time. Return flights leave Halifax at 2pm and land in Lisbon at 11.55pm. The Ponta Delgada–Toronto service departs the Azorean capital at 10am, reaching Toronto at 12.35pm, with return flights leaving Canada at 10.55pm and arriving back in the Azores at 8.40am the following day.

Both routes will be operated using Boeing 737 aircraft, with seating capacity ranging from 100 to 230 passengers, depending on the model.

Tickets are already on sale on WestJet’s website, with return fares starting at €444.36 for the Lisbon–Halifax route and from €407.20 for flights between Ponta Delgada and Toronto.

Now represented in Portugal by APG Portugal, WestJet says the new routes form part of its ongoing expansion strategy, aimed at consolidating its position as a leading airline in the North American and international markets.

The new connections are expected to boost tourism and strengthen ties between Portugal, the Azores and Canada, home to a large Portuguese diaspora.