Air Canada has announced it will resume non-stop, international flights between Ottawa and London Heathrow on March 31, 2025.
The flights will operate four times a week aboard Air Canada’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet, which offers a choice of three cabins. Seats are available for purchase via the aircanada.com website, on the Air Canada app as well as from travel agents and Air Canada’s contact centres.
From March 31 to October 25, flight AC888 from Ottawa to London will depart at 18:40 on Mondays and Thursdays and 20:55 on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The overnight flights are scheduled to touch down the following day at 06:30 and 08:35 respectively.
Flying from Heathrow to Ottawa over the same period, the flights are scheduled to take off on Mondays and Thursdays at 14:05 and on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 12:40. The flights will land on the same day in Ottawa at 16:35 and 15:20 respectively.
The announcement of the resumption of Ottawa-London Heathrow flights follows Air Canada’s recent announcement that flights from the Canadian capital will be expanded significantly during the winter of 2024-25. Air Canada will operate up to 229 weekly flights to and from Ottawa next year, including regional, domestic and international flights.
Additionally, Canada’s national carrier has designated Ottawa as a test location for trialling and refining customer service initiatives designed to improve the customer journey.
“We are very pleased to solidify Air Canada’s leadership serving our country’s capital with the resumption of trans-Atlantic services beginning next spring. In addition to London being a top global destination, Heathrow is one of the world’s primary global gateways as well as home to Air Canada’s largest international operations,” said Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President – Revenue and Network Planning at Air Canada.
“Conveniently located together with our Star Alliance partner airlines in The Queen’s Terminal, Air Canada offers customers easy connections to a vast array of more than 30 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa with our airline partners. With continued demand for visiting friends, relatives, leisure and tourism, as well as supporting business and corporate travel, this route gives customers from both the National Capital Region and abroad direct, convenient international travel options to and from Ottawa,” he continued.
“We are looking forward to the future delivery of Air Canada’s new Airbus A321XLR fleet. 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,” concluded Galardo.
Mark Sutcliffe, Mayor of Ottawa, commented: “Ottawa residents and business owners have been hoping and calling for a return of direct non-stop service to London. The restored flight will boost our local economy, increase tourism and connect two world capitals. It will make it easier for residents to travel abroad, tourists to visit Ottawa and businesses to launch and expand in our city. Thank you to Air Canada, the Ottawa International Airport Authority, and Ottawa Tourism for their hard work. And special thanks to all the residents who raised their voices and helped make this possible. This is a big win for Ottawa.”
Michael Crockatt, President and CEO of Ottawa Tourism, said: “We are truly excited for Air Canada to launch this flight between Ottawa and London. 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.”
“Regardless of the reasons for travel, the tourism and hospitality businesses in Canada’s capital are ready to warmly welcome visitors. We are grateful to all our partners for making this possible,” added Crockatt.
During the summer of 2025, Air Canada will serve London Heathrow from six Canadian cities, with up to 63 flights a week.
