Flights between Canada’s capital city and one of the busiest airports in Europe will be resumed by the country’s main airline. Beginning in the spring of 2025, Air Canada will once more operate flights between Ottawa and London-Heathrow.
Beginning on March 31, 2025, the Montreal-based airline will operate flights four times a week between London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW). During the summer, flights will run on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays in both directions.
On this route, Air Canada will operate Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, which are outfitted with 298 seats: 30 in business class (the airline’s “Signature Class”), 21 in premium economy, and 247 in economy.
Air Canada operated a daily, year-round route between Ottawa and London Heathrow prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The airline’s now-retired Boeing 767-300ER aircraft flew the route, which was put on hold in 2020.
The most recent announcement from the airline also made a suggestion that the Airbus A321XLR may eventually be used to extend the service. “The economics, optimum cabin size and range of the XLR which is expected to begin arriving in late 2025, will enable us to consider operating this important international route with greater frequencies and potentially with year-round service,” said Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President of Revenue and Network Planning at Air Canada, in a press release.
After the pandemic, the transatlantic aviation service was discontinued for a few years, leaving the Canadian capital without air transport. Air France started operating flights between Ottawa and Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in June 2023. Since then, Air France has expanded the size of the aircraft it uses on the route from the Airbus A330-200 to the Boeing 787-9 to the Airbus A350-900. The route is now operated year-round.
