Delta Air Lines and Westjet have agreed to launch a joint venture on flights between the US and Canada.
The two airlines said they have signed a preliminary memorandum of understanding (MOU) to form a commercial JV creating an “extensive transborder route network” including co-ordinated flight schedules and expanded codeshares.
It would also see Delta and Westjet sharing airport facilities with the attention of creating a “more seamless travel experience” for passengers, as well as offering enhanced and reciprocal frequent flyer benefits.
Steve Sear, Delta’s president – international, said Westjet was the “perfect partner” on US-Canada routes because of its “strong brand and employee and customer-centric culture”.
“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,” said Sear.
Ed Sims, Westjet’s executive vice-president, commercial, added: “This is an important step in Westjet’s mission to become a global airline.”
The proposed JV still has to be approved by both airlines’ boards as well as being cleared by regulatory authorities in the US and Canada.