‍CALGARY — For the first time ever, Brazil will have a nonstop connection to Western Canada, with WestJet (WS) announcing a brand new route between Calgary and São Paulo.

The flights, WS54 and WS55 (a nod to Brazil's +55 telephone code), will operate 3 times weekly from November 8 on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays during the 2026-27 winter season, using the carrier’s 7 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.

The outbound leg leaves Calgary International Airport (YYC)at 22:45 local time, arriving the next day at São Paulo/Guarulhos–Governor André Franco Montoro International Airport (GRU) at 15:35. The return leaves São Paulo at 19:40 after a 4-hour turnaround, arriving in Calgary the following morning at 05:15.

At ~5,700 nautical miles (great circle distance), YYC-GRU will be by far WestJet’s longest flight, beating out Calgary to Seoul (ICN) by roughly 1,000 nautical miles. However, it’s only one hour more in flight time on the outbound leg; 11:55 versus 12:55, due to winds and Russian airspace restrictions.

The Dreamliner

YYC-GRU will push the limits of what the 787-9 is capable of from Calgary.

YYC is situated 3,600 feet above sea level, which presents challenges with takeoff performance on the 787, especially with such a dense cabin configuration of 320 seats. This is why the flight will run during the winter, when the air is colder and thus denser than in the summer. It’s unlikely that a non-stop flight to GRU would be possible in Calgary’s summertime.

But that’s not the only challenge for WestJet’s Dreamliner fleet. Right now, the 7 aircraft the carrier has are flying to 8 different destinations this winter: Honolulu (HNL), Kahului-Maui (OGG), San Jose del Cabo (SJD), Puerto Vallarta (PVR), Cancun (CUN), as well as Tokyo-Narita (NRT), London Heathrow (LHR), and Paris (CDG). This means, as long as no further aircraft are added to the long-haul fleet between now and November, sacrifices will have to be made on flights that are within range of the airline’s 737 fleet.

São Paulo 

Guarulhos International Airport is the primary hub and headquarters for LATAM Brasil (JJ), which maintains a codeshare agreement with WestJet. The new flight gives JJ a direct connection to Canada and to the WestJet network for the first time, and vice versa.

GRU is WestJet’s second destination in South America, after Medellín, Colombia (MDE), from Toronto (YYZ), and Calgary’s first-ever connection to the continent. WestJet now serves 100 destinations on 4 continents from Calgary alone.

WestJet is the second Canadian carrier serving the city of 11.9 million, after Air Canada’s own non-stop flights from Toronto and Montréal (YUL).

The announcement event

Airways attended the announcement event at the Calgary Zoo this morning, which really set the Brazilian mood. The event was held in the ENMAX conservatory, surrounded by tropical vegetation and a very warm, humid environment.

The announcement itself came from WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech, beginning with a video announcement of São Paulo, followed by a dance performance and remarks from YYC CEO Chris Dinsdale and Mayor Jeromy Farkas.

During the media scrum with Alexis, the cancellation of the updated 737 cabin layouts with 28 inches of pitch was top of mind, with about a third of the questions focused on them. The decision was announced on Friday.

Light refreshments and snacks were served afterward, Brazilian themed of course. This included a vegetable empanada with chipotle tomato coulis and a barbecue chicken croquette with whiskey barbecue sauce, both of which were quite tasty. I’d be interested to see if these eventually make it into on-board meal offerings for flights to GRU.

The event was well put together and did a good job of getting people excited about this exciting new destination.

Statements 

WestJet CEO, Alexis von Hoensbroech 

"Our first flight between Western Canada and South America is the beginning of an exciting chapter in WestJet's Calgary story. From our very first flight in 1996 to 100 non-stop destinations on four continents, this city has stood alongside us every step of the way. We're deeply grateful to our Calgary partners and the millions of guests who have trusted us over the years; this support has made the road from one to 100 possible, and we are proud to further strengthen Calgary's position as the best-connected mid-sized city in North America!"

YYC CEO, Chris Dinsdale 

"YYC Calgary International Airport has been a proud partner to WestJet for 30 years, and we're excited to celebrate the 100th direct destination out of Calgary. This expansion to South America brings more of the world to discover our city and our spectacular region, and gives local passengers a stronger direct connection to destinations around the globe."

Calgary Mayor, Jeromy Farkas

“On behalf of the City of Calgary, we extend our warmest congratulations to WestJet on reaching this remarkable milestone. Celebrating 100 destinations from YYC is not only a testament to WestJet's vision and commitment to Calgary but a proud moment for our entire community. Every new route launched from our airport opens doors for Calgarians – strengthening tourism, expanding trade, deepening cultural connections, and fueling economic growth across our city."