Delta Air Lines and WestJet have signed an agreement to create a transborder joint venture (JV) arrangement across their route networks within the US and Canada which will include cooperating on belly cargo.
The agreement deepens the existing codeshare partnership between the carriers and follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding in December 2017 announcing the intention to form a JV. Both will co-locate operations at key hubs.
The airlines said the JV will provide substantial reach into Canada and the US with transborder service to more than 30 cities covering over 95 per cent of US – Canada demand. Both say the new JV will also enable Delta and WestJet to compete more effectively against other carriers.
Delta’s chief executive officer (CEO), Ed Bastian said: “Delta’s future is global and together with WestJet, we can augment the two airlines’ capabilities and bring together our strengths in this important trans-border market.”
WestJet President and CEO, Ed Sims said the Canadian carrier continues its drive toward “becoming a global airline”, and the agreement marks a major milestone in that journey.
