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

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