Award-winning airline relaunches long haul flights from the UK to lesser-known capital city 

AIR Canada is relaunching its non-stop service between London Heathrow and the Canadian capital.

The new direct service will operate between London Heathrow and Ottawa, the Canadian capital, from March 31, 2025.

Four flights will operate each week, every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.

Outbound flights on a Monday and Thursday will leave London Heathrow at 2.05pm, touching down in the Canadian capital at 4.35pm local time.

Departure times on a Wednesday and Saturday will depart the UK at 12.40pm, arriving in Ottawa at 3.20pm.

Return flights will then depart from Ottawa on a Monday and Thursday at 6.40pm, touching back down in the UK at 6.30am the following day.

Meanwhile, services will leave Ottawa at 8.55pm on a Wednesday and Saturday, arriving in the UK at 8.35am the next morning.

The seasonal service will operate from March 31, 2025 until October 25, 2025, marking its return after it was paused during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Tickets are already on sale, with one-way fares from £552 for the non-stop service.

Air Canada will now serve six cities in Canada from London Heathrow when the route relaunches next spring.

It is thought that the route between London Heathrow and Ottawa could become year-round.

Ottawa Tourism president and chief executive Michael Crockatt told Travel Weekly: “This will make it even easier for visitors from the UK – Ottawa’s top overseas market – and other key destinations to travel to Canada’s capital to visit friends and family, to attend a conference or sporting event, and to experience our celebrated cultural gems and easy access to that world renowned Canadian nature.”

Earlier this year, Air Canada was recognised the most awards of any Canadian airline at the 2024 Skytrax World Airline Awards.

The airline was given awards for having the world’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge Catering and the Best Cabin Crew in Cabin.

Air Canada also won other accolades too, including being named the Most Family Friendly Airline in North America, Best Premium Economy Class Onboard Catering in North America, and Cleanest Airline in North America.

OTHER NEW ROUTES

Air Canada aren’t the only airline launching new flights from the UK.

Norwegian launched new flights to Gothenburg in Sweden from the UK with four weekly routes.

Other new routes include easyJet‘s Gatwick to Skiathos and Salerno, as well as Wizz Air’s new London Gatwick-Varna routes .

New long haul routes include Air India’s new London Gatwick to Bengaluru route as well as WestJet’s new Gatwick flights to both Halifax and St John’s in Canada.

ROUTES GETTING SCRAPPED

Last month is was announced that Virgin Atlantic is to scrap flights from London Heathrow to Shanghai from October, 25 years after launching the route.

This was followed by British Airways scrapping its London to Beijing route, also in October, as well as its Belgrade route less than a year after launching.

Heading to Australia? Your flight back will now take longer with Qantas suspending its direct Perth-London route, one of the longest direct flights in the world.

Earlier this week, the boss of TUI revealed plans for new long-haul destinations after huge demand for exotic holiday islands

It comes after TUI revealed it’s offering free kids’ places at selected hotels in Universal, Florida.