A joint venture is being created between Delta Air Lines and Canada’s second largest carrier WestJet.
The aim is to co-ordinate flight schedules, expand code sharing and provide improved connections on routes between the US and Canada, subject to regulatory approval.
The agreement will give Delta eight partnerships with leading carriers in the world’s biggest aviation segments spanning Europe, Latin America, Asia, Australia and Canada.
Delta global sales executive vice president, Steve Sear, said: “With its strong brand and employee and customer-centric culture, WestJet is the perfect partner for us in the US-Canada transborder segment and together we will produce great results for our respective employees, customers and investors.
“We look forward to applying Delta’s experience building successful joint venture partnerships to this important segment of transborder travel, the second-largest international segment for US travel.”
WestJet executive vice president commercial, Ed Sims, said: “This agreement will bring heightened competition and an enriched product offering to the transborder segment, both of which will benefit our guests.
“This is an important step in WestJet’s mission to become a global airline. We are delighted to be working with the premier US carrier, Delta Air Lines, in this joint venture.”
WestJet has 45 airline partners providing access to more than 175 destinations in over 20 countries and is due to introduce the first of ten Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners into service from January 2019.