WestJet’s first direct flight from Toronto Pearson International Airport to Cardiff Airport landed today, restoring a direct Canada service to Wales after nearly 20 years without one. The new route begins with four departures per week on Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft and gives Cardiff a new transatlantic link it has not had in years.

Passengers on the inaugural flight were greeted with a traditional water cannon salute as the aircraft arrived, while the Penarth choir Criw Canu welcomed WestJet crew, operational senior leadership teams and customers with Welsh songs at the aircraft steps. Before the first departure, passengers and guests at the gate were handed cupcakes for the launch event.

The service matters because it reconnects Wales with Canada on the day it starts, and because Toronto Pearson gives WestJet access to a major hub with connections to over 100 destinations across Canada and the United States. WestJet Senior Manager Hub Strategy and Airport Affairs Chris White-DeVries said the route makes it easier for more people to discover South Wales and Canada, while Cardiff Airport leaders cast the launch as a boost for the airport’s role as Wales’ international gateway.

Adam Price MS said the inaugural flight was a powerful signal that Wales is open for business, and that direct transatlantic connectivity is exactly what Welsh businesses need to reach new markets, attract investment and grow. Jon Bridge called the day a landmark moment for Cardiff Airport and Wales, saying the new service gives customers easier access to Toronto and onward destinations across North America.

The route’s return is also a test of whether a seasonal service can turn a ceremonial launch into a lasting connection. WestJet has put Cardiff back on the transatlantic map, but the long-term value will depend on whether the four weekly departures can build steady demand from passengers, business travelers and visitors on both sides of the Atlantic.