Things in the Sky

Yesterday, it was announced that WestJet will partner with Air France and KLM, which is something I did not expect to be honest. The airlines will begin constructing a codeshare later this year or early next year, but they will begin working on other aspects of a partnership before that happens (i.e. baggage interlining). The press release does not imply, however, that WestJet will be joining SkyTeam as part of the deal. It also mentions that “possibilities for future frequent flyer program cooperation will be explored as well.”

This makes excellent sense for Air France and KLM. Air Canada is already a member of Star Alliance, so now Air France and KLM can take advantage of Wesjet’s network to get into the Canadian market. Meanwhile, having a European partner is a fantastic opportunity for WestJet, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this new international partnership could bring over some business travelers from Air Canada.

Now, I think it’s also worthwhile to mention Southwest here – would they do something similar? Probably not. SkyTeam has no presence in the domestic Canadian market, unlike here in the States.