From May 17, WestJet will open seasonal service between its Calgary International Airport base and Seoul Incheon, to be operated 3X-weekly with a Boeing 787.
Korean Air and WestJet have expanded their codeshare agreement to include a new transpacific route set to be launched by the Canadian carrier to Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN).
Also included are six Korean Air routes beyond ICN. From May 17, WestJet will open seasonal service between its Calgary International Airport (YYC) base and ICN. The route will be operated 3X-weekly with a Boeing 787 and will become WestJet’s second Asia destination after Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT), which it also serves from YYC.
The YYC-NRT route this month was bumped from 3X-weekly to daily frequencies.
Korean Air will place its code on the YYC-ICN route, which will be exclusive to WestJet. In turn, WestJet’s code will be placed on Korean Air flights from ICN to six destinations: Bangkok; Da Nang, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam; Hong Kong; and Singapore.
Both Air Canada and Korean Air serve ICN from Toronto Pearson International Airport and Vancouver International Airport year-round. WestJet already places its code on Korean Air’s two Canada-ICN routes.
"As we prepare for WestJet's inaugural flights between Calgary and Incheon, the timing of this codeshare expansion is ideal,” adds Jeff Hagen, WestJet’s vice president of commercial development and strategic partnerships.
WestJet has said the YYC-ICN route launch is part of its wider strategy to enhance Calgary’s presence as an intercontinental hub.
WestJet also views the new route as a plus for its cargo business. "The direct connection to Incheon presents a significant opportunity for WestJet Cargo, encompassing both exports and imports,” says Kirsten de Bruijn, executive vice president for cargo .
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