Canadian budget operator WestJet Airlines now has a code-share arrangement with Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways.
Code-sharing, which enables an airline to sell seats, under its own name, on another carrier’s flight, is important for WestJet, which needs to expand into overseas markets to grow its business. Its own fleet of Boeing 737 Next Generation planes lack transoceanic range.
WestJet, which has mostly catered to leisure travellers flying to sun destinations, said that Cathay Pacific’s "CX" code will go on WestJet flights between Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa and Winnipeg and Cathay Pacific’s two Canadian gateway cities, Toronto and Vancouver. Bookings for the code-share are now open for travel starting on Oct. 20.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the WestJet code-sharing arrangement is Cathay Pacific’s second North American deal in less than a week. The carrier recently signed a new code-share accord with Alaska Airlines.