LONDON – On the evening of May 7, the Canadian carrier WestJet launched its first scheduled services to Rome, Italy from Calgary.
The New Route…
Marking a major milestone for the Canadian travel sector, the new route is the first-ever connection between Calgary and Rome, as well as adding 43% extra European service capacity from Calgary with WestJet.
The service will be operated once per week on Saturday for the outbound and Sunday as the return initially but will increase to three times per week during peak season.
The departure out of Calgary International Airport (YYC), WestJet flight 32 (WS32) leaves at 18:20pm local time and arrives at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO) at 11:55 am local time the following morning after a flight time of just under 10 hours.
The return flight, WestJet 33 (WS33) leaves Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO) at 13:55 pm local time and arrives back at Calgary International Airport (YYC) at 16:26 pm local time after a flight time of nearly 10 and a half hours.
The new service is operated by WestJet’s state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. The airline currently has six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners in its fleet, with a further four on order for a total of 10 of the type. They also have options for a further 10 to bring to a total count of 20 in their fleet if they wish to exercise those options in the future.
In terms of the seating configuration on WestJet’s 787s, they all have a total capacity of 320 seats. This is broken down into 16 private lie-flat business class seats, 28 recliner premium economy class seats and 276 standard economy class seats.
The new Rome service marks WestJet’s fifth European destination from Calgary. The other four are Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in France, Dublin Airport (DUB) in Ireland, and both London airport’s Heathrow (LHR) and Gatwick (LGW).
Not only will the route provide to be useful for Canada’s tourism sector, but WestJet will also see a benefit within their cargo division with the new route providing approximately 120 tonnes of cargo capacity per week.
Senior Words…
Commenting on the new route, WestJet’s Executive Vice President of External Affairs, Angela Avery said, “The launch of our highly anticipated Calgary-Rome service is an incredible milestone for both WestJet and our guests, as we’ve been looking forward to this moment, for more than two years. With its rich history and culture, it is no surprise that our guests are eager to visit Rome. We are thrilled to provide Western Canadians with increased connectivity to this incredible city. We are also excited to bring guests from Rome to visit Canada and assist with the recovery of Canada’s vital tourism industry.”
Adding to Avery’s comments, Premier of Alberta, Jason Kenney says, “WestJet continues to be a true Alberta success story. This new step, expanding its international offerings with a direct flight to Rome will create new opportunities for Albertans to see the world. WestJet’s continued growth is another sign of Alberta’s recovery, as our tourism industry gets back on its feet after two tough years.”
Many other seniors in both Canada and Italy have also commented on the new WestJet route. They have said:
Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Transportation for the Government of Alberta –
“WestJet’s new direct flight from Calgary to Rome sends another clear signal that there is growing confidence in Alberta’s economic recovery. This new connection will show more international travellers that Alberta is a must-see destination while providing new overseas travel options for Albertans.”
Ivan Bassato, Chief Aviation Officer at Aeroporti di Roma –
“We are really delighted to welcome WestJet to Rome Fiumicino. The launch of the new direct flight from Calgary to Rome FCO is the result of long-running cooperation and partnership with WestJet, signifying a relevant milestone towards the development of the connectivity between Italy and Canada. With more than one million passengers flying between Italy and Canada in 2019, the Canadian market confirms its attractiveness as one of the main long-haul markets. The new flight will grant Canadian passengers full access to Rome and through our hub to the overall Italian and Mediterranean market, while customers travelling from Rome to Calgary will finally have the opportunity to fly directly to the heart of central Canada as well as to scout new flying options to the American West Coast wonders.”
Bob Sartor, President, and Chief Executive Officer of The Calgary Airport Authority –
“This non-stop route to the Eternal City is yet another milestone achievement by WestJet to expand options for our guests. By creating opportunities to bring the world to Calgary, WestJet is a significant contributor in driving the recovery of the travel sector.”
Ron Orr, Minister of Culture for the Government of Alberta –
“WestJet’s new direct flight from Calgary to Rome will help spark a new and exciting cultural exchange between Italians and Albertans. Italian visitors will experience with ease Canada’s premier western destination, Alberta. Our province is host to incredible live events like rodeos, festivals, music, theatre, and hockey, and if selected, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and other cultural attractions that will keep Italian tourists coming back for more. I expect that in the years to come, many Albertans will experience the beautiful culture of Italy and the great works of the Italian Renaissance and welcome many visitors from around the world to enjoy the rich culture and heritage of our province.”
Elissa Golberg, Ambassador of Canada to Italy –
“I am delighted to welcome the newly established WestJet flight between Rome and Calgary, which will enable the many ties between our two countries to grow. This link is a tangible demonstration of our shared desire to build forward together in this important milestone year that marks the 75th Anniversary of Canada and Italy diplomatic relations.”
