Introduction: WestJet‘s Global Reach
WestJet, Canada’s second-largest airline, maintains a significant international presence with a focus on transborder travel to the United States, as well as key leisure destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean. A prominent example is the airline’s busiest international route in 2025 between Los Angeles (LAX) and Calgary (YYC), featuring an average of 202 monthly flights, over 30,500 available seats, and nearly 37 million Available Seat Miles (ASMs).
WestJet’s Strategy and Transborder Operations
WestJet’s strategy involves connecting major Canadian hubs to key U.S. cities and popular vacation spots, highlighted by Calgary’s central role. Los Angeles acts as a crucial U.S. gateway for both leisure and business travel, strengthening the link between Western Canada and the southwestern United States.
Besides Los Angeles, WestJet extends its reach to various U.S. West Coast, southern hubs, and Caribbean destinations, establishing an international network driven by leisure demand and strategic partnerships.
Calgary’s Importance in International Connectivity
Calgary International Airport (YYC) is pivotal for WestJet’s international operations. Among the top 20 busiest international routes in 2025, nearly half originate or end in Calgary. Aside from the LAX-Calgary route, other frequent services include Phoenix, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Houston.
- The Phoenix-Calgary route offers 178 monthly flights, more than 26,800 seats, and nearly 33 million ASMs.
- Las Vegas-Calgary has 166 monthly flights, driven by short-haul leisure travel.
- Atlanta-Calgary, notable for generating over 40 million ASMs, shows the route’s capacity efficiency despite its lower frequency.
- Houston-Calgary contributes over 31 million ASMs with 118 flights monthly, indicating a blend of business travel and partner airline connections.
Vancouver and Toronto Extend WestJet’s Reach
Vancouver (YVR) and Toronto (YYZ) also play vital roles in WestJet’s international connections. Noteworthy are the Las Vegas-Vancouver service with 118 monthly flights and the Atlanta-Vancouver route generating over 40 million ASMs, though it averages 104 flights monthly.
Toronto is significant for Caribbean and transatlantic operations, with the Orlando-Toronto route offering 88 monthly flights and more than 15.5 million ASMs. Additional routes to Cancun, Montego Bay, and Punta Cana reflect WestJet’s strong positioning in these markets.
Caribbean and Mexico as Key Leisure Destinations
Destinations like Cancun, Punta Cana, Montego Bay, and Belize form the backbone of WestJet’s winter sun strategy, with routes such as Cancun-Toronto and Cancun-Calgary featuring prominently in the top 20. The Cancun-Calgary route alone has over 30 million ASMs despite 70 monthly flights.
European routes like Dublin–Toronto and Edinburgh–Toronto form part of WestJet’s growing Atlantic ambitions, offering over 22,000 monthly seats and more than 74 million ASMs combined.
Western U.S. Market and Emerging Routes
The U.S. West Coast market remains heavily contested, but WestJet holds steady with routes like Seattle-Calgary, San Francisco-Calgary, and San Diego-Calgary. These routes combine business and tourism traffic, ensuring consistent volumes year-round.
Smaller strategic routes like Las Vegas-Edmonton and San Diego-Calgary also contribute to the network’s balance and regional market presence.
| Rank | Route | Flights | Seats | ASMs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles (LAX) – Calgary (YYC) | 202 | 30,567 | 36,863,802 |
| 2 | Phoenix (PHX) – Calgary (YYC) | 178 | 26,862 | 32,879,088 |
| 3 | Las Vegas (LAS) – Calgary (YYC) | 166 | 26,082 | 27,099,198 |
Conclusion: Importance of U.S. Integration
Fifteen of the top 20 busiest international routes are between Canada and U.S. cities, underscoring WestJet’s strong integration with the U.S. market. The airline’s focus on Florida, California, and Gulf Coast cities demonstrates its strategic understanding of Canadian travelers’ preferences, particularly in colder months.




