Ottawa residents will soon have another direct route to Europe, with Air Canada announcing the return of non-stop flights between Ottawa International Airport and London Heathrow. The service, scheduled to commence on 31 March 2025, will operate four times weekly, marking a significant boost to international connectivity for Canada's capital.
The new service will utilise Air Canada's Dreamliner fleet, with departures planned for Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays in both directions. This reintroduction comes after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, during which the airline previously offered a direct connection between the two cities.
Mark Galardo, Air Canada's executive vice president for revenue and network planning, highlighted the importance of the route in a statement: "With continued demand for visiting friends, relatives, leisure and tourism, as well as supporting business and corporate travel, this route gives customers from both the National Capital Region and abroad direct, convenient international travel options to and from Ottawa."
The news has been welcomed by Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, who has been actively engaging with airline executives to expand overseas flight options from the city. "Ottawa residents and business owners have been hoping and calling for a return of direct non-stop service to London," Sutcliffe stated. "The restored flight will boost our local economy, increase tourism, and connect two world capitals. It will make it easier for residents to travel abroad, tourists to visit Ottawa, and businesses to launch and expand in our city."
In addition to the renewed London service, Air Canada has announced plans to significantly expand its operations from Ottawa in 2025, with up to 229 weekly flights scheduled. This expansion includes increased services to destinations within Canada, such as Calgary, Vancouver, Winnipeg and Halifax, as well as increased US routes to Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa, Chicago, Newark and Washington.
The announcement of the London service follows the successful launch of Air France's non-stop flights between Ottawa and Paris in 2023. This route has since been expanded to seven daily departures, utilizing larger aircraft.
These developments demonstrate a growing trend of increased international connectivity for Ottawa, providing a much-needed boost to the local economy and tourism sector. The return of the direct London flight, along with the overall expansion of Air Canada's Ottawa operations, is expected to further enhance the city's global reach and attractiveness as a travel destination.
