In a strategic move to deepen its footprint across North America, Air India has entered into an interline partnership with WestJet, Canada’s leading leisure carrier. The agreement significantly enhances connectivity for travellers flying between India and destinations beyond major Canadian gateways such as Toronto and Vancouver.
Under the partnership, passengers will be able to book single-ticket itineraries that seamlessly combine Air India’s long-haul services with WestJet’s extensive domestic Canadian and U.S. network. The arrangement also ensures coordinated baggage handling and smoother transfers, addressing a key pain point in multi-airline travel.
The deal opens up access to 31 additional destinations across North America. In Canada, travellers can now connect to cities including Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Winnipeg, Halifax, Ottawa, and Victoria, among others. In the United States, the expanded network covers major and leisure-driven markets such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Orlando, Las Vegas, and San Diego.
A key advantage of this partnership lies in its multi-hub connectivity. In addition to direct services into Canada, passengers can also route via Air India’s European gateways—such as Amsterdam, Paris, and London Heathrow—to access onward WestJet connections to cities like Halifax, Calgary, and St. John’s. This provides greater flexibility and routing options, particularly during peak travel periods.
From a network perspective, the partnership builds on Air India’s existing strength in the Canada market. The airline currently operates 17 weekly non-stop flights to the country—10 to Toronto and 7 to Vancouver—alongside approximately 75 weekly services to Europe. By leveraging WestJet’s regional reach, Air India can now extend its presence across the continent without the need to deploy additional aircraft or launch its own domestic operations.
Commenting on the development, Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer of Air India, highlighted the importance of Canada as a key market driven by strong people-to-people ties and growing trade links. Meanwhile, John Weatherill, Chief Commercial Officer of WestJet, noted that the partnership effectively combines Air India’s long-haul network with WestJet’s strength in regional connectivity.
For the aviation industry, this agreement reflects a broader trend where full-service carriers are increasingly relying on partnerships to expand global reach in a cost-efficient manner. Instead of adding new routes, airlines are leveraging alliances and interline agreements to tap into demand across secondary and tertiary cities.
Overall, the Air India–WestJet interline partnership represents a calculated expansion strategy—one that enhances network depth, improves passenger convenience, and strengthens connectivity between India and the wider North American market.
