Tag: westjet

  • WestJet Cargo sells Virgin Atlantic’s cargo capacity from Toronto–London and beyond

    WestJet Cargo sells Virgin Atlantic’s cargo capacity from Toronto–London and beyond

    WestJet Cargo proudly announces a Block Space Agreement (BSA) with Virgin Atlantic from Toronto (YYZ) to London (LHR) and beyond starting the 31st March.

    This marks a commercial year-round collaboration that will significantly boost cargo capacity between the East Coast of Canada to London and beyond on Virgin Atlantic network. This commercial partnership strengthens trade links between Canada and key destinations across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, as Virgin Atlantic serves numerous strategic cities from London Heathrow, including DEL, BOM, BLR, JNB, CPT, DXB, RUH, LOS. In addition, it signifies the airline’s return to the Canadian cargo market after more than two decades, leveraging WestJet Cargo’s proven expertise to manage and sell this key route.

    Starting at the end of March, WestJet Cargo will sell cargo capacity on Virgin Atlantic’s wide-body flights from Toronto to London offering up to 20Tonnes of capacity per day. The commercial partnership will provide customers with reliable access to both WestJet Cargo’s and Virgin Atlantic Cargo’s full suite of services — areas in which both carriers have established a strong track record. All shipments from Toronto will be moved under a WestJet Cargo Air Waybill (AWB) starting 838.

    “Virgin Atlantic’s decision to entrust WestJet Cargo with managing this crucial route is a testament to our deep understanding of the Canadian market and our operational excellence. It’s a natural synergy with the same ground handling in both Toronto Pearson International and London Heathrow. We have a super team based in Toronto who are eager to make this commercial partnership a success for both carriers. Our specialized expertise in handling high-value commodities such as pharmaceuticals and valuables ensures that customers receive reliable, top-tier service, all while providing seamless access to Virgin Atlantic’s London service, and beyond” said Kirsten, Executive Vice President of WestJet Cargo.

    “We’re thrilled to further enhance our commercial partnership with WestJet, leveraging their longstanding cargo expertise in the Canadian marketplace. This collaboration will ensure our customers across the region will have seamless access and added capacity throughout Virgin Atlantic’s global network,” said Nick Diesel, Managing Director, Virgin Atlantic Cargo. “Canada is an important market for us, and this partnership enables us to provide cargo solutions that support trade and business growth between Toronto, London and beyond.”

    Virgin Atlantic chose WestJet Cargo for this pivotal commercial partnership due to the carrier’s strong market presence, robust operational capabilities, and specialized handling proficiency. This partnership represents a renewed commitment by Virgin Atlantic to the Canadian cargo market, connecting inbound cargo via its state-of-the-art cargo facility at London Heathrow, and signals a new era of strategic growth and innovation for WestJet Cargo.

    With this scalable commercial partnership model, WestJet Cargo is further establishing its role as a key player in the international cargo industry.

  • WestJet Cargo launches three new routes

    WestJet Cargo launches three new routes

    The Chicago route was opened for cargo sales on May 16th, connects Calgary to the US city three times a week, increasing to daily flights by June 17th and will continue to operate year-round. Operating with 737 aircraft, this route offers cargo capacities of 2,700 kg per flight, focusing on the transportation of perishables. This route addresses increasing demand and marks the opening of WestJet Cargo’s passenger belly network in addition to the weekly freighter that already operates into Chicago.

    Moncton, Canada, was opened for cargo sales on May 17th to meet the growing needs of the Canadian market and will continue to operate year-round. Also utilizing a 737 aircraft, this route links Moncton to Calgary, Edmonton, and Toronto with varying frequencies: up to daily flights to Calgary, 3 to 4 weekly flights to Edmonton, and 3 to 5 weekly flights to Toronto. The primary cargo for this route is live animals and can also accept 2,700 kg per flight of cargo.

    The Calgary to Incheon route, launched on May 18th, operates three days weekly with a 787 Dreamliner, offering a 60 tonnes capacity for all cargo commodities. This route is already highly popular with the WestJet cargo customers!

    “These new routes will significantly enhance our ability to serve the Canadian market by offering greater capacity and more options for our customers,” said Kirsten De Bruijn, Executive Vice President of WestJet Cargo. “We’re delighted to expand our network and provide reliable and efficient cargo services to meet the growing demand.”