CALGARY, Sept. 22, 2016 /CNW/ - WestJet announced
today it has entered into a code-share agreement allowing Hainan
Airlines to place its HU code on WestJet-operated flights. The two
carriers are building on an existing interline agreement that has
been in place since 2013.
Hainan will be marketing HU
code-shared flights to and from Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, Prince
George, Edmonton, Regina,
Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax. All code-share sales are offered
through Hainan Airlines and its global distribution network.
"The Chinese travel market is vast and growing; our newest
code-share with Hainan Airlines will allow even more guests to
easily connect to the WestJet network," said Bob Cummings, WestJet Executive Vice-President,
Commercial. "This code-share agreement provides choice, streamlined
service and connectivity to guests here at home and abroad. We look
forward to welcoming Hainan's
guests on board to experience our caring service as the
relationship expands to include code-sharing."
"We are very pleased to implement this code-share
cooperation with WestJet, Canada's
highest-rated airline for customer service," said Mr. Wei HOU,
Vice President of Hainan Airlines. "Cooperation with WestJet will
further expand our network in Canada, giving our passengers more
transfer options through Calgary and Toronto. We are confident that with
Hainan's SKYTRAX five-star
service, now augmented by WestJet's own high-level service
standard, our customers will continue experiencing the
kind of pleasant journey they've come to expect
from us."
This announcement marks WestJet's 16th code-share agreement,
bringing to more than 40 the total number of airline partnerships
around the world.
About WestJet
We are proud to be Canada's highest-rated airline for customer
service, powered by an award-winning culture of care and recognized
as one of the country's top employers. We offer scheduled service
to 100 destinations in North
America, Central America,
the Caribbean and Europe. Through our regional airline, WestJet
Encore, and with partnerships with airlines representing every
major region of the world, we offer our guests more than 150
destinations in more than 20 countries. Leveraging WestJet's
extensive network, flight schedule and remarkable guest experience,
WestJet Vacations delivers affordable, flexible travel experiences
with a variety of accommodation options for every guest. Members of
our WestJet Rewards program earn WestJet dollars on flights,
vacation packages and more. Our members use WestJet dollars towards
the purchase of WestJet flights and vacations packages on any day,
at any time, to any WestJet destination with no blackout periods
ΜΆ even on seat sales. For more information about
everything WestJet, please visit westjet.com.
About Hainan Airlines
Hainan Airlines was founded in
1993 and has grown to be China's
largest independent airline, with a fleet of over 162 aircraft,
including wide body Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A330
jetliners. The airline is a subsidiary of the HNA Group, a Fortune
500 company from China, which has
interests in logistics, tourism, hotels, financial services, as
well as air transportation.
Hainan began service to
Canada in 2010 and has
progressively grown internationally, transporting hundreds of
thousands of passengers to and from China and Canada. The airline has a wide domestic
network in China, serving more
than 500 routes linking 100 cities, as well as points in
Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia and the Middle East. Hainan prioritizes elite-level service,
earning numerous awards for safety, punctuality and a high-quality
product.
Recent recognition includes:
2016/2015/2014/2013
WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard ranked #1 in Canada (MoneySense magazine)
2015/2011/2010/2008/2007/2006/2005 Canada's Most Admired Corporate Culture
(Waterstone Human Capital)
2015 Best Employers in Canada
(Aon Hewitt)
2014/2013 WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard ranked #1 in the
Canada's Choice ranking
(RewardsCanada.ca)
2014 Interbrand Canada's Best Canadian Brands (Rank #20)
2014 Brands of the Year (Strategy magazine)
2014
Canada's Most Preferred Airline
(Ipsos)
2014 Value Airline of the Year (Air Transport
World magazine)
2014/2013/2012 Canada's Most Attractive Employer
(Randstad)
2014/2013/2012/2011 Highest equity score:
airline, vacation package supplier brands (Harris/Decima EquiTrend
Study)
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SOURCE WestJet