WestJet and Air France-KLM have expanded their codeshare agreement, offering travelers significantly more options when flying between Canada and Europe. The updated partnership introduces new connectivity via Halifax, Calgary, and St. John, streamlining access to both major and secondary European cities—ideal for business travel that doesn’t always follow traditional routes.
New Routes Now Available
One of the key additions is WestJet’s new Halifax–Amsterdam route, which now connects to 14 destinations across six countries through KLM’s extensive European network. This opens up seamless onward travel to hubs that previously required inconvenient layovers or multi-carrier ticketing.
In addition, travelers departing from Halifax, Calgary, and St. John now have access to four more cities via Paris Charles de Gaulle, thanks to Air France:
- Bucharest, Romania
- Budapest, Hungary
- Prague, Czechia
- Bologna, Italy
These cities are growing business destinations for sectors like tech, manufacturing, and logistics—industries increasingly seeking reliable connections outside the classic London-Frankfurt-Paris axis.
Why This Matters for Business Travel
For travel coordinators and business travelers, the implications are significant:
✅ Greater Connectivity for Mid-Sized Cities
Many corporate teams operate from or travel to smaller European cities where direct service is limited. The codeshare means fewer layovers, simplified booking, and better alignment between departure and arrival times—especially valuable for tight schedules or day-before meetings.
✅ Streamlined Ticketing and Support
With codeshare agreements, travelers benefit from single-ticket itineraries, interline baggage handling, and coordinated customer service. This reduces the friction (and stress) of managing multi-airline journeys and makes disruption management smoother when delays or cancellations occur.
✅ Improved Travel Program Flexibility
Expanding access from non-hub Canadian cities like Halifax and St. John gives Canadian companies more agility in team deployments, client visits, and supplier management. For companies looking to decentralize their workforce or support remote teams, this network extension supports those goals.
✅ Policy Alignment and Vendor Consolidation
For travel managers, the expanded codeshare may simplify preferred supplier agreements and vendor tracking, offering a better opportunity to consolidate spend with fewer airline groups while still covering a wider footprint.
Final Thoughts
The expansion of the WestJet and Air France-KLM codeshare is more than a win for leisure travelers—it’s a strategic boost for businesses seeking to optimize their European travel. As always, review your booking policies and make sure your travelers are aware of these new options—especially if you’re managing travel from Atlantic Canada.