Air India (AI) , the carrier whose pilot was found deadheading with marijuana, has entered an interline partnership with WestJet (WS), expanding connectivity between India and North America via key transit hubs. The agreement enables single-ticket itineraries, coordinated baggage transfers, and access to more than 30 additional destinations across Canada and the United States.
The partnership leverages major gateways including Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), Toronto, and Vancouver International Airport (YVR), Vancouver, while also integrating European transit points to enhance routing flexibility. The move reflects growing passenger demand driven by deepening economic and diaspora ties between India and North America.
_Air_India_Airbus_A350-941_VT-JRB_@_EGLL_2025-06-18.jpg){kind=link}
Air India–Westjet Interline Agreement Expands North America Network
Under the agreement, passengers can seamlessly connect from Air India’s long-haul services to WestJet’s domestic and transborder network through Toronto (YYZ) and Vancouver (YVR).
This integration unlocks access to 17 Canadian cities and 14 U.S. destinations, significantly broadening Air India’s reach beyond its existing gateways. Cities such as Calgary, Montreal, Halifax, and Ottawa are now accessible alongside U.S. markets including San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Atlanta.
Canadian Cities Accessible via Interline Partnership
| City | Province | Airport (IATA Code) |
|---|---|---|
| Calgary | Alberta | Calgary International Airport (YYC) |
| Edmonton | Alberta | Edmonton International Airport (YEG) |
| Montreal | Quebec | Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL) |
| Winnipeg | Manitoba | Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport (YWG) |
| Halifax | Nova Scotia | Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) |
| Ottawa | Ontario | Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport (YOW) |
| Regina | Saskatchewan | Regina International Airport (YQR) |
| Saskatoon | Saskatchewan | Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport (YXE) |
| Kelowna | British Columbia | Kelowna International Airport (YLW) |
| St. John’s | Newfoundland and Labrador | St. John’s International Airport (YYT) |
| Prince George | British Columbia | Prince George Airport (YXS) |
| Victoria | British Columbia | Victoria International Airport (YYJ) |
| Fort St. John | British Columbia | Fort St. John Airport (YXJ) |
| Terrace | British Columbia | Northwest Regional Airport Terrace–Kitimat (YXT) |
| Cranbrook | British Columbia | Canadian Rockies International Airport (YXC) |
| Comox | British Columbia | Comox Valley Airport (YQQ) |
| Nanaimo | British Columbia | Nanaimo Airport (YCD) |
The interline structure allows bookings under a single ticket, ensuring streamlined transfers and through-checked baggage—an operational improvement that reduces friction in multi-leg international journeys. Let’s now take a look at the US cities:
United States: Cities Accessible via Interline Partnership
| City | State | Airport (IATA Code) |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | California | San Francisco International Airport (SFO) |
| Los Angeles | California | Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) |
| Atlanta | Georgia | Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) |
| Detroit | Michigan | Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) |
| Orlando | Florida | Orlando International Airport (MCO) |
| Phoenix | Arizona | Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) |
| Tampa | Florida | Tampa International Airport (TPA) |
| Nashville | Tennessee | Nashville International Airport (BNA) |
| Las Vegas | Nevada | Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) |
| San Diego | California | San Diego International Airport (SAN) |
| Fort Lauderdale | Florida | Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL) |
| Palm Springs | California | Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) |
| Santa Ana | California | John Wayne Airport (SNA) |
| Fort Myers | Florida | Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) |
European Gateways Strengthen Connectivity via Amsterdam, Paris, and London
Air India has further reinforced the partnership by aligning it with its European network, including:
- Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) [which has one of the better bird strike reduction technology]
- Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
- London Heathrow Airport (LHR) (an airport whose contentious third-runway might just be constructed )
- London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
These hubs act as secondary connection points, enabling passengers to access destinations such as Halifax and St. John’s through multiple routings. This multi-hub strategy enhances schedule resilience and provides passengers with greater itinerary choice.
The airline currently operates 75 weekly services to these European gateways, ensuring sufficient feed into WestJet’s network through coordinated interline transfers. Air India supports this partnership with 17 weekly non-stop flights to Canada, including 10 weekly services to Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), Toronto and 7 weekly flights to Vancouver International Airport (YVR), Vancouver.
These frequencies are complemented by dense European operations, including 49 weekly flights to Heathrow (LHR), 14 weekly services to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), seven to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS), and five to Gatwick (LGW).
.jpg){kind=link}
Leadership Commentary Highlights Strategic Importance
In a statement issued by Air India, Chief Commercial Officer Nipun Aggarwal emphasized that Canada remains a priority market due to strong cultural and economic ties. He noted that the partnership enhances accessibility through “single-ticket convenience, coordinated baggage handling, and expanded destination choice.”:
Canada continues to be a key market for Air India, driven by strong people‑to‑people ties and increasing trade between our nations
John Weatherill, Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer at WestJet, stated that the agreement strengthens connectivity between India and Canada. He added that the partnership combines Air India’s long-haul capabilities with WestJet’s regional network to deliver a more cohesive travel experience:
By bringing this interline agreement to life, we’re significantly expanding access between India and Canada, making it easier for our shared guests to seamlessly visit high-demand destinations across North America. This partnership aligns Air India’s long-haul strength with WestJet’s North American reach, creating meaningful new travel options and improving the end-to-end journey for travellers.
_at_Edmonton_International_Airport.jpg){kind=link}
All in All
The Air India–WestJet interline agreement marks a calculated expansion into North America, combining long-haul capacity with regional feed.
By integrating Canadian hubs and European gateways, the partnership delivers both scale and flexibility, positioning Air India more competitively in a high-demand corridor.
Interline bookings are now available through Air India’s official channels and authorized travel agents worldwide.