Air India–WestJet pact opens 30+ US, Canada routes via single ticket

Air India on Friday announced an interline partnership with Canada’s WestJet to expand connectivity between India and destinations across Canada and the United States.

Under the agreement, passengers will be able to book single-ticket itineraries combining flights of both airlines, with coordinated baggage handling and streamlined transfers, Air India said in a release.

The partnership will allow Air India passengers flying into Toronto and Vancouver to connect onward to 17 cities in Canada and 14 in the United States on WestJet’s network.

The Canadian destinations include Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Winnipeg, Halifax, Ottawa and Regina, among others, while US cities on the network include San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Las Vegas and Orlando.

Select Canadian cities such as Halifax, Calgary and St. John’s will also be accessible via Air India’s European gateways at Amsterdam, Paris, and London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

“Canada continues to be a key market for Air India, driven by strong people-to-people ties and increasing trade between our nations,” Air India Chief Commercial Officer Nipun Aggarwal said in a statement.

“By partnering with WestJet, we are making travel across North America more accessible and effortless for our guests, with coordinated baggage handling, single‑ticket convenience, and a far wider choice of destinations,” he added.

WestJet Group Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer John Weatherill said the agreement would significantly expand access between India and Canada while improving connectivity to high-demand destinations across North America.

Air India currently operates 17 weekly non-stop flights to Canada, including 10 to Toronto and seven to Vancouver.

The airline also runs 75 weekly services to its European gateways, including London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Paris Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Schiphol, which provide further connectivity options.

Singapore Airlines CEO meets Tata Sons Chairman

Meanwhile, Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong on Thursday held meetings with Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran and other senior executives.

Both sides are believed to have detailed discussions on loss-making Air India.

Goh Choon Phong arrived at the Bombay House, the headquarters of the Tata Group, on Thursday morning and left in the evening.

Tata Group acquired Air India from the Indian government in January 2022, and later Singapore Airlines purchased a 25.1 per cent stake in the airline.

The meeting assumes significance against the backdrop of Air India facing multiple headwinds, including spiralling operating costs due to the airspace curbs in the wake of the West Asia conflict and the closure of Pakistan airspace for nearly a year now.

These restrictions have forced the airline, which is in the midst of an ambitious transformation plan, to take longer routes for long-haul international flights, resulting in increased fuel burn and higher expenses.

The fatal AI171 plane crash in Ahmedabad last June that killed 260 people has also significantly impacted the loss-making carrier.

Earlier this month, Air India announced that its CEO and MD Campbell Wilson will be stepping down, and the airline is looking for a new chief.