Southwest hits gold with Canadian code-share partner

WestJet could be a better partner for Southwest than the defunct ATA anyway.

Southwest hasn’t had an international code-share partner since Icelandair more than a decade ago. With a much larger Southwest today, this is good for its future growth.

And, like Southwest, WestJet runs all 737s. Hmm, possible merger in the future?

As far as U.S. routes, WestJet flies to New York City, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Tampa, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale.

For Dallas passengers, probably the Phoenix and Los Angeles connections are most valuable, giving entrée to western Canada from there. Given that Phoenix is Southwest’s busiest airport, this is big. Next would be the NYC connection, since WestJet actually goes there via Newark, a Southwest destination.

And, WestJet has several Caribbean flights.

The jackpot, with or without an actual merger, would be for WestJet to fly into Chicago Midway.

That would put Dallas passengers immediately on the tarmac for one-stop flights to Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal, since Chicago gets removed from Wright Amendment restrictions later this year.