Virgin Atlantic’s New Partnership with WestJet Explained

Virgin Atlantic is expanding its codeshare agreement with Canadian airline WestJet, giving passengers on both sides of the Atlantic a wider choice of connections and unique destinations.

The two airlines first launched their codeshare partnership in 2019, but from March 30, the agreement will be expanded to include new routes and destinations that customers of each carrier can purchase tickets for under one booking.

Photo: Business Class. Courtesy of WestJet

The expanded partnership is set to give Virgin Atlantic passengers easier access to numerous Canadian destinations, while WestJet customers will be able to take greater advantage of Virgin Atlantic’s extensive global network—including India, a key region for Canadian citizens.

New Routes and Destinations

The expansion of the codeshare partnership coincides with the launch of Virgin Atlantic’s nonstop flights between London Heathrow (LHR) and Toronto Pearson (YYZ) on March 30, the airline’s first direct service to Canada for over a decade. Conveniently, both Virgin Atlantic and WestJet will be based at the airport’s Terminal 3.

Photo: Courtesy of Boeing

From there, passengers can seamlessly hop on to WestJet’s network should they book a connecting flight under the codeshare, with destinations including the airline’s primary hub of Calgary (YYC), Edmonton (YEG), Ottawa (YOW), Winnipeg (YWG), and Vancouver (YVR).

Seamless Connections in Toronto

Virgin Atlantic is also working with the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to ensure smooth connections for its passengers in Toronto.

Meanwhile, WestJet customers will be able to book connecting flights from London to numerous worldwide destinations on Virgin Atlantic’s network, including Delhi (DEL), Mumbai (BOM), Bengaluru (BLR), Dubai (DXB), the Maldives (MLE), Cape Town (CPT), and Johannesburg (JNB).

Photo: Toronto Peason International Airport. Courtesy of Lumi W / Unsplash

“Canada is an incredibly important opportunity for Virgin Atlantic as many of our customers travel between the Great White North, the UK, India and beyond,” said Juha Jarvinen, EVP and Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Atlantic.

“This expanded partnership with WestJet, alongside our partners at Delta Air Lines and Air France-KLM, will create seamless connectivity for our customers via our new route launching between Toronto and London.”

The codeshare agreement with WestJet is designed to meet the growing demand for travel to the UK and India from various regions. Canadian customers can anticipate a premium, personalized experience at every stage of their journey, thanks to the exceptional service provided by dedicated staff, which distinguishes the airline in the competitive travel market.

Looking Ahead: Future Collaboration

John Weatherill, Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer at WestJet, added: “We are thrilled to enhance our partnership with Virgin Atlantic and support their return to Canada. As the first phase of this expansion, we are excited to welcome guests from across Virgin Atlantic’s global network by providing connectivity across Canada with WestJet.

“This expanded codeshare will simplify travel and deliver a more seamless experience for our shared guests. We look forward to building closer ties in the months ahead, providing more options to connect Canada with the world.”