WestJet's Winter Sun Expansion
WestJet Launches Five New Winter Sun Routes Connecting Canada to Mexico and the Caribbean
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Key Points
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WestJet's Calgary–Mérida (MID) service marks the airline's first-ever Mérida route and Western Canada's only nonstop link to the Yucatán via YYC; the weekly service begins December 17.
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Winnipeg gains two sun routes this winter: Winnipeg–Punta Cana (PUJ) starting November 28 and Winnipeg–Belize City (BZE) starting December 14, with each service operated weekly.
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Ottawa–Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR) will launch December 20 as a weekly nonstop; the Costa Rica Tourism Board welcomed the new service, highlighting easier access to Costa Rica and celebrating the continued WestJet–Sunwing collaboration and the Pura Vida lifestyle.
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Regina–San José del Cabo (SJD) route starts December 14, expanding Regina's international reach; Los Cabos International Airport and Regina Airport officials say the nonstop service strengthens connectivity to a priority market and provides a convenient winter travel option.
WestJet is launching five new non-stop winter sun routes from Canadian cities, including its first-ever flight to Mérida, Mexico. The weekly Calgary–Mérida service begins December 17, making it Western Canada's only nonstop link to the Yucatán, according to Daily Hive.
The new routes also connect Winnipeg to Punta Cana and Belize City, Regina to San José del Cabo, and Ottawa to Liberia, Costa Rica. Together, they push WestJet's winter sun network to roughly 50 destinations across 15 Canadian cities.
Calgary Gets Its First Nonstop Flight to Yucatán
WestJet's new Calgary–Mérida route is a historic first for the airline. No Canadian carrier has ever flown nonstop from Western Canada to Mérida before. The weekly service launches December 17, 2026, Daily Hive reported. Mérida sits at the heart of the Yucatán Peninsula, close to Mayan ruins and a growing foodie scene.
WestJet frames the Mérida route as part of a push to reach new Mexican markets beyond the well-worn Cancún corridor. The airline already flies to about 50 sun destinations this winter. Adding Mérida gives Calgary travelers a rare direct option to a destination most Canadians would otherwise reach only through connections.
Winnipeg Scores Two Brand-New Caribbean and Central American Routes
Winnipeg is getting the biggest boost of any city in this expansion. WestJet is adding two new weekly routes from the city this winter. Winnipeg–Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic starts November 28. Winnipeg–Belize City launches December 14, according to CTV News.
Travel and Tour World noted that both new services open direct access to popular Caribbean and Central American holiday spots. Winnipeg Airport officials welcomed the additions as a boost to connectivity. Travelers in Manitoba have historically faced fewer direct sun route options than those in larger Canadian hubs.
Ottawa and Regina Join the New Route Lineup
Ottawa gains a weekly nonstop to Liberia, Costa Rica, starting December 20. The Costa Rica Tourism Board publicly welcomed the new service. Officials highlighted easier access to the country's beaches and rainforests. They also pointed to the ongoing WestJet–Sunwing partnership as a key driver, celebrating what they called the "Pura Vida" lifestyle for Canadian travelers.
Regina gets a weekly nonstop to San José del Cabo in Mexico's Baja California Sur, launching December 14. Los Cabos International Airport and Regina Airport officials both praised the link. They called it a "convenient winter travel option" that strengthens ties to a priority tourism market. It also expands Regina's slim list of direct international flights, according to CTV News.
WestJet Bets Big on Leisure Travel This Winter Season
WestJet is positioning itself as Canada's leading leisure airline heading into winter 2026–27. The carrier serves sun destinations from 15 Canadian cities and is boosting capacity on popular returning routes. The five new routes come on top of that existing base, Travel and Tour World reported.
The airline is leaning heavily on its Sunwing partnership to drive leisure travel growth. Sunwing is WestJet's tour operator brand, focused on all-inclusive vacation packages. Together, they cover Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, and the Caribbean. The winter push signals WestJet's confidence that demand for sun getaways among Canadians remains strong and growing.
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