WestJet has withdrawn from 13 international destinations in 2026, marking another significant round of network changes for Canada’s second-largest airline. The cuts span Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico, the United States and Colombia, with some routes ending only months after their launch or return. The changes reflect the difficult balance airlines face between seasonal demand, operating costs, aircraft availability and changing travel patterns.
The latest reductions include three European destinations that WestJet served during the 2026 summer season. Copenhagen, Glasgow and Madrid all disappeared from the airline’s schedule at the end of September. WestJet had launched or restored these services only a few months earlier, making the withdrawals particularly notable.
WestJet Ends Three European Routes After Summer 2026
WestJet’s European network has undergone several adjustments as the airline responds to changing economics. The carrier recently confirmed the end of three routes from Halifax and Toronto, with higher fuel prices cited as one factor behind the decisions.
Copenhagen was served from Halifax Stanfield International Airport, while Madrid also operated from Halifax. Both routes began in May 2026 and lasted only through September. The short operating period highlights how quickly seasonal international services can be adjusted when their economics do not meet expectations.
Glasgow has an even longer history with WestJet. The airline first began serving Glasgow International Airport in May 2015, making it only the carrier’s second European destination after Dublin. The original service operated from Toronto Pearson through Halifax before the routing was later changed.
WestJet stopped serving Glasgow between 2019 and 2021 before launching a nonstop Toronto-Glasgow service in May 2022. That version lasted for only one season. The airline returned to Glasgow again in May 2026, but the latest service also lasted just one summer.
The Glasgow withdrawal is particularly interesting because WestJet continues to serve Edinburgh, which is roughly an hour from Glasgow by road. That gives the airline a remaining Scottish gateway while removing the need to maintain both airports in its network.
Seven Cuban Destinations Removed From WestJet’s Network
The largest concentration of international cancellations occurred in Cuba, where WestJet completely suspended its network during 2026. Seven Cuban destinations were removed from the airline’s schedule: Cayo Coco, Cienfuegos, Cayo Largo del Sur, Havana, Holguín, Santa Clara and Varadero.
These cuts are especially significant because several destinations had been part of WestJet’s network for many years. Cayo Coco, Holguín and Varadero had been served since 2009, while Santa Clara had been part of the network since 2010. Cienfuegos and Cayo Largo del Sur were among the markets WestJet inherited through its integration of Sunwing operations.
Havana was the newest of the seven, having joined WestJet’s network from Toronto in 2025. Its withdrawal therefore came only about a year after the route began.
The airline’s Cuban retreat was not an isolated network decision. Air Canada and Air Transat also suspended services to the country as operating conditions deteriorated. Power outages, fuel shortages, food scarcity and transportation disruptions created additional challenges for tourism and airline operations.
WestJet has indicated that flights to Cuba are expected to return, although there is no clear timetable for the resumption of service. Until then, Canadian travelers seeking warm-weather destinations have increasingly shifted toward alternatives such as the Dominican Republic and Mexico.
WestJet Also Leaves San Andrés and Lihue
Outside Cuba, WestJet ended service to two other international markets earlier in 2026. San Andrés Island, Colombia, was removed from the network in March. The route operated from Montréal Trudeau International Airport and was another service inherited from Sunwing.
A month later, WestJet ended its long-running service to Lihue, Hawaii, from Vancouver. The Hawaiian route had been served since 2009, making its removal another notable change for WestJet’s Pacific network.
These decisions demonstrate how the airline’s network is being reshaped well beyond Europe. Some routes were long-established markets, while others were relatively new services inherited through WestJet’s expansion and integration of Sunwing’s operations.
Calgary-Guadalajara Route Ends in October
WestJet’s latest international withdrawal is Guadalajara, Mexico, from Calgary. The route began on December 7, 2025, providing the first nonstop passenger service between Calgary and Guadalajara and creating a new connection between Alberta and one of Mexico’s largest cities.
Initially, the service operated twice weekly on Tuesdays and Sundays. During the summer schedule, however, it was reduced to once weekly on Sundays, suggesting that demand did not support the original frequency.
The final flight is scheduled for October 18, 2026. WestJet’s 174-seat Boeing 737-800 will operate the final rotation as WS2278 from Calgary to Guadalajara and WS2279 on the return journey.
The Calgary-Guadalajara cancellation is significant because the route had existed for less than a year. It illustrates the commercial risk involved in launching new international markets, particularly when airlines must commit aircraft and crew resources against uncertain demand.
Full List of WestJet’s 13 International Destination Cuts
The complete list of international destinations removed from WestJet’s network during 2026 is:
- Cayo Coco, Cuba
- Cienfuegos, Cuba
- Cayo Largo del Sur, Cuba
- Havana, Cuba
- Holguín, Cuba
- Santa Clara, Cuba
- Varadero, Cuba
- San Andrés Island, Colombia
- Lihue, United States
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Madrid, Spain
- Guadalajara, Mexico
Taken together, these changes show how dramatically WestJet’s international network can shift within a single year. The airline has removed seven Cuban destinations, three European markets and three additional destinations across the Americas.
The changes also come alongside WestJet’s withdrawal from Lethbridge and Medicine Hat in Alberta, where WestJet Encore made its final departures in June 2026. While those airports are domestic rather than international, their closure further demonstrates the carrier’s ongoing effort to align its network with demand and operating economics.
For passengers, the immediate impact is a smaller selection of nonstop WestJet services to several established leisure destinations. However, the airline continues to maintain extensive networks across Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean and the United States, meaning these cancellations represent a reallocation of capacity rather than a retreat from international flying altogether.
