Southwest, WestJet Reveal Codeshare Plan

Southwest Airlines and Canada's WestJet have revealed an agreement that will eventually result in a codeshare by late 2009, and could see Southwest finally break into the international market. The memorandum of understanding includes the integration of sales of WestJet's domestic and U.S. services into Southwest's online portal, www.southwest.com. Both airlines also could combine frequent flyer programs, ground handling, marketing and corporate selling. A Southwest spokeswoman confirms that this new proposal mirrors one brokered with U.S. carrier ATA Airlines, although this deal "is expected to be more robust" because of the financial health of both Southwest and its new Canadian partner. This new accord will give Southwest access to international services, a move once anticipated by the carrier's deal with ATA, which failed... [read full story]