CALGARY — WestJet’s inaugural flight to Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) has taken flight.

The first departure left Toronto Pearson on May 24, expanding the airline’s European network as part of its global expansion strategy. It’s WestJet’s first route to Spain.

“This flight between Barcelona and Toronto complements our existing Toronto-London (Gatwick) service in providing our guests with another nonstop flight to a popular European tourism and financial centre,” says Arved von zur Muehlen, WestJet Chief Commercial Officer.

The three times weekly service is operated on WestJet’s Boeing 767 that includes the airline’s updated Premium and Economy cabin service. This summer, with the addition of Barcelona, WestJet will operate to five European cities including London, Gatwick, Paris, Dublin and Glasgow.

Out of Toronto, flights depart at 10:05 p.m., arriving in Barcelona the next day at 11:50 a.m. On the return, flights depart Barcelona at 1:20 p.m., arriving back in Toronto at 4:15 p.m.