On Monday, April 8, a highly anticipated solar eclipse will take place across Canada and the United States with some locations in Eastern Canada experiencing a total eclipse. WestJet has compiled a list of the airline’s flights that may intersect with the eclipse’s path, as well as some fun facts and helpful tips for those who will be travelling and working during the eclipse.
Safety tips for the solar eclipse
Taking proper safety measures while travelling or working during a solar eclipse ensures this unique experience can be enjoyable for all. Guests, WestJetters and partners can be assured that safety remains WestJet’s top priority and all necessary measures have been taken to ensure safe working and travelling conditions on April 8. No operational impacts are anticipated as a result of the solar eclipse. Guests travelling on flights that may intersect with the eclipse will receive an additional pre-flight safety announcement.
WestJet flights that may intersect with the eclipse’s path of totality
•WJA 2691 (Varadero – Toronto)
•WJA1231 (Ft. Lauderdale - Toronto)
•WJA1237 (Ft. Myers - Toronto)
•WJA717 (Toronto - Vancouver)
•WJA1361 (Atlanta - Winnipeg)
•WJA1590 (Calgary - Atlanta)
•WJA1416 (Calgary - Orlando)
•WJA1541 (Houston - Calgary)
•WJA1681 (Calgary – New York City)
•WJA2436 (Winnipeg - Cancun)
•WJA2412 (Regina - Cancun)
•WJA2310 (Calgary - Cancun)
Guests who will be travelling on one of these flights are encouraged to bring their own solar eclipse glasses.
Solar Eclipse Fun Facts
According to the Canadian Space Agency, a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon comes between the Earth and the Sun, casting a shadow in a specific location. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon covers the sun completely. The last total solar eclipse that was visible from Canada took place on February 26, 1979, and the next one after April 8, 2024, is expected to occur in 2044. The eclipse’s path of totality will pass through some cities and towns in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. The affected locations will experience a period of total darkness for a few minutes. Canadians residing outside of the path of totality can expect to experience a partial solar eclipse, meaning that the sun and the moon will not be perfectly aligned, so only part of the sun will be hidden.
The solar eclipse can be viewed across the country at different times throughout the day on April 8. For information on what time the eclipse will be visible across Canada, CBC News has compiled a helpful article with city specific timing available here.
