WestJet, China Southern move to code-share

Agreement is tenth code-share for Canada's most-preferred airline

CALGARY, Aug. 6, 2013 /CNW/ - WestJet today announced it has entered into a code-share agreement with China Southern Airlines (CZ). China Southern Airlines will now begin marketing and distributing WestJet-operated flights.

The "CZ" code is on select WestJet flights connecting between Vancouver and Edmonton, Kelowna, Ottawa, Montreal, Winnipeg, Prince George, Calgary, Toronto and Regina. Bookings can be made through China Southern Airlines or your preferred travel agency.

"WestJet and China Southern Airlines have had an interline agreement since March 2012 and we are very pleased to see this evolve into a code-share," said Chris Avery, Vice-President, Network Planning, Alliances, and Corporate Development. "We remain committed to partnering with top-quality airlines as part of our airline partnership strategy and we look forward to welcoming new code-share guests on board our WestJet flights."

"Our new code-share agreement with WestJet will enhance the value and customer service China Southern Airlines provides to our passengers while also contributing to our growth strategy" said Zhao Xiaosong, SVP, International Affairs and Alliances of China Southern Airlines. "For example, our Vancouver flights increased to daily service beginning June 18, 2013. Ultimately, this partnership will allow us to provide more products and choices to all our passengers, and enhance our influence in the Sino - Canada market."

This is the tenth code-share agreement for WestJet. Since 2011, WestJet has initiated code-shares with American Airlines, Air France, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Japan Airlines, KLM, and Korean Air.  Additionally, WestJet has twenty-three interline relationships, further connecting world-wide passenger flows to WestJet's network.

About WestJet
WestJet is Canada's most preferred airline, offering scheduled service to 87 destinations in North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Powered by an award-winning culture of care, WestJet pioneered low-cost flying in Canada. Recognized nationally as a top employer, WestJet now has more than 9,600 WestJetters across Canada. Operating a fleet of more than 100 Boeing Next-Generation 737 and Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft, WestJet strives to be one of the five most successful international airlines in the world. This year, WestJet launched its new regional airline, WestJet Encore.

About WestJet Vacations
WestJet Vacations provides guests with affordable, reliable and easy-to-book travel experiences to 53 destinations in 17 countries, including the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. Leveraging WestJet's fun and friendly image, extensive network and remarkable guest experience, WestJet Vacations offers guests a great flight schedule and a wide variety of hotel and resort options to create fun and affordable vacation experiences. To create an album full of vacation memories, visit www.westjetvacations.com.

About WestJet Rewards
WestJet Rewards members earn WestJet dollars on WestJet flights, vacation packages and more. WestJet dollars can be used like cash towards the purchase of WestJet flights and WestJet Vacations packages on any date to any WestJet or WestJet Encore destination with no blackout periods, even on seat sales. More flights equal more benefits, including bonus WestJet dollars and Jet-Aways. Guests who use their WestJet RBC MasterCard will earn WestJet dollars even faster.

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About China Southern Airlines
China Southern Airlines, a proud member of Sky Team, operates the largest fleet, most developed route network and largest passenger capacity of any airline in the People's Republic of China. Currently, China Southern Airlines operates over 500 passenger and cargo transport aircraft, including Boeing 777, 747, 757 & 737 and Airbus A380, 330, 321, 320, and 319. The airline fleet is ranked the first in Asia and the third among the 240 Airlines in IATA (in terms of fleet size).

China Southern Airlines has more than 1,930 daily flights to 193 destinations in 35 countries and regions across the world. Through close cooperation with its Sky Team member airlines, China Southern Airlines' global route network spans 1000 destinations to 187 countries and regions and nearly every major world metropolis. China Southern transported more than 86 million passengers in 2012. By December, 2012, China Southern Airlines have kept a safe record of 10.37 million flying hours and carried close to 600 million passengers without incident. The airline's safety commitment has - and continues to be - unwavering both throughout China and globally. For more information, please visit: www.csair.com

SOURCE: WestJet