WestJet is Partnering With Japan Airlines to Launch a Codeshare

Canada and Japan enjoy enhanced domestic connections. WestJet and Japan Airlines have agreed to a codeshare arrangement that will see the former’s ‘WS’ code placed on the latter’s flights between Vancouver International Airport and Narita International Airport. This brings added convenience including across the Pacific, for passengers from both countries.

Directly launch a cooperative step

WestJet is following up on its recent announcement by making Tokyo a destination for sale. This means that passengers can now purchase their codeshare without needing to pre-purchase the flights and can instead book through the airline’s call center with travel partners and then connect onward to other parts of Japan, which has recently been ramped up for the winter.

Passengers of Japan Airlines can now join WestJet’s Canadian flight network with Japan Airlines. This codeshare means that our team will check in and handle your baggage so you only have to do what you need to from the moment you board at Vancouver to the moment you reach your final destination at the first point of departure.

Japan Airlines and WestJet are expanding their codeshare partnership by adding more flights on five new routes and offering passengers more options in the global market. Japan Airlines has been an outstanding partner, committed to offering passengers a seamless connection.

Banking on the optimism inherent in being fueled by demand

When international travel was re-allowed in October, Japan saw this as an opportunity to end their long absence from the global air travel market. There will be ample opportunities during the year’s upcoming festivities and holidays, making it a more favorable time for the code share agreement with Canada.

Despite the lack of shared flight service, Canada and Japan were in full agreement when international flights became available. When Japan reopened its borders, bookings increased by more than 51%. This is a definite indication that there was greater demand for flights between Japan and Canada.

Seeing as Canadian low-cost carriers weren’t doing very well in their market, it made sense for WestJet to examine the opportunity and capitalize on it, according to John Weatherill, a representative of WestJet.

“Because travel between Canada and Japan is steadily increasing, this is an ideal time to launch this new cooperation with Japan Airlines. Both countries have significant incoming and outgoing tourism markets that can be enhanced by the new opportunities.”

Possibility of joining an alliance

Back in October, WestJet enhanced cooperation with Korean Air, making it the second time this year that the Canadian budget airline made a partnership with an Asian carrier. The speculation then was that WestJet could eventually join SkyTeam, especially because of their significant partnership with Delta and France-KLM.

Anthem remains a possibility if WestJet’s chances at joining an alliance, especially the oneworld alliance, are slim. The alliance sprang some surprises this year when Oman Air joined, so that might make WestJet’s chances much better after all.