For the First Time: Nonstop Flights From London to the Canadian Capital

London Gatwick Airport and Air Transat today (Friday, May 15, 2025) launched a new direct flight route between London and Ottawa, the capital of Canada. This is a significant move for Gatwick, which continues to expand its long-haul flight network for the summer of 2026.

The new route of the Canadian airline will be operated three times a week: on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Fridays, and will be available until October 23, 2026. The direct flight time will be approximately 7 hours and 15 minutes.

The flights will depart from London Gatwick at 09:40 and land in Ottawa at 12:40 (local time), while the return flights will depart from Ottawa at 19:40 and land in London the following morning.

Gatwick said the new route strengthens ties between the UK and Canada and gives passengers easier access to one of the country's most culturally diverse cities. Ottawa offers a mix of history, culture and easy access to Canada's famous natural sites.

Ottawa, Canada. Photo Shutterstock

As mentioned, Air Transat's new route will operate three times a week until October 2026 and will connect for the first time with a direct flight between London Gatwick and Ottawa.

Johnny Macneal, Gatwick’s Director of Aviation Development, called the new service a sifnificant addition to their extensive long-haul flight offering and a significant boost for passengers on both sides of the Atlantic.

He went on to emphasize the importance of the Canadian market and the fact that the new route will ipen up the nation’s capital with faster, more convenient travel."

Air Transat is also seeing some expansion of operations between the UK and Canada.

Sebastian Ponce, Air Transat’s Chief Revenue Officer, argued that the launch of their first flight between London Gatwick and Ottawa will offer UK passengers a fresh, convenient and inspiring way to discover Canada. He also explained that customers will enjoy seamless connectivity via Ottawa to destinations across Canada and select cities in the United States, all via a simple, efficient and easy-to-navigate airport. 

Air Transat is one of Canada's leading leisure airlines and is considered a major player in the transatlantic flight market. Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Montreal, the company operates flights to many destinations in Europe, North America, the Caribbean and South America, and in the past even operated direct flights to Israel.

The company has won international awards over the years in the areas of passenger experience and service, and in recent years has significantly expanded its operations in Europe and the UK. Air Transat's fleet of aircraft mainly includes Airbus A321LR and A330 aircraft, designed for long-haul flights with high efficiency and reduced fuel consumption.

London Gatwick offers almost 230 destinations this summer, including 56 long-haul routes to North America, the Caribbean, Africa and Asia.

Air Transat. Photo: Shutterstock / Erman Gunes