Cheap Flights from St. John's (YYT)

St. John’s is Canada’s most easterly major airport, which makes it a surprisingly good launch pad for short summer flights to Europe, while new Porter and Flair competition is helping domestic fares. The cheapest flights usually appear from mid-January to March, in May and in the fall.

Quick answer

• Main carriers: Air Canada and WestJet, with Porter, Flair and PAL Airlines adding options.
• Cheapest months: mid-January to March (outside March Break), May, and October to November.
• Best-value routes: London, Dublin, Toronto, Halifax and Montréal.
• Cheap airport access: Metrobus Route 14 now stops at the airport.
• Alternatives: few; Gander and Deer Lake are far, so timing matters more than airport choice.

Airlines and where they fly

Air Canada connects St. John’s with Toronto, Montréal and Halifax for onward flights, and WestJet flies across Canada. In summer, WestJet has flown seasonal nonstops from St. John’s to London Gatwick, Dublin and Paris, with flight times of roughly five hours to London.

Porter has been expanding at YYT with jet service to Ottawa, Montréal and Hamilton, and Flair has announced St. John’s routes, adding low-cost competition on flights to Central Canada. PAL Airlines connects St. John’s with Labrador and other regional points, and sun routes operate seasonally in winter.

Heads up: Weather at YYT, especially fog in spring and early summer, can cause delays and cancellations. Build a buffer day before cruises, connections on separate tickets or important events.

Cheapest times to fly from St. John’s

St. John’s has a distinctive pattern. Summer brings tourists and returning Newfoundlanders, so July and August are expensive in both directions. Christmas is also busy as families travel home.

Period	What to expect from YYT
Mid-January to March	Good domestic and sun fares outside March Break
May	Shoulder value as summer Europe routes begin
June to August	Peak pricing for Canada and Europe
September	Europe flights still operating, with fewer crowds
October to November	Often the best domestic value of the year

Our cheapest days and months guide explains why mid-week flights tend to save money.

Best-value routes from YYT

London is the standout. Flying from St. John’s to London takes roughly five hours, and seasonal fares can be competitive, especially for May, early June and September. Our London guide covers Heathrow and Gatwick. Dublin is the other favourite, with a strong cultural connection and a similarly short flight.

Domestically, Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa and Montréal are where the most competition exists, so watch for sales when Porter, Flair, Air Canada and WestJet overlap. For winter sun, seasonal flights and packages to Cancún and Punta Cana operate, though many trips connect through Toronto or Halifax.

Pro tip: If you are travelling within Europe, fly into London and home from Dublin or Paris on WestJet’s seasonal network. An open-jaw trip can avoid backtracking at little extra cost.

Nearby airports that can save you money

St. John’s has few practical alternatives:

• Gander (YQX): about three and a half hours west, with limited domestic service.
• Deer Lake (YDF): around seven hours away, useful mainly for west-coast residents.

For most people on the Avalon Peninsula, the better strategy is to be flexible on dates and watch for sales from Porter and Flair. Our guide to Canadian budget airlines explains what is and is not included in low-cost fares.

Getting to YYT without wasting money

The airport is about 15 minutes from downtown St. John’s by car. Since January 2025, Metrobus Route 14 has served the airport, with stops near the arrivals area of the terminal and on World Parkway. It is far cheaper than a taxi, but check the current schedule and fare before relying on it.

Parking is generally cheaper than at big-city airports, which helps for short trips.

Tips for YYT

• Book summer Europe flights when they first go on sale.
• Compare Porter and Flair fares with Air Canada and WestJet, including bags.
• Build in weather buffers, especially for tight connections.
• Consider open-jaw routings to make the most of the seasonal Europe network.

Bottom line

St. John’s is pricier than big hubs, but it is the best place in Canada for short summer flights to London and Dublin, and new domestic competition is helping. Fly in the shoulder seasons, plan around the weather, and sign up for free deal alerts to catch YYT sales as they launch.