Business Boost

Hainan Airlines says that teaming up with WestJet this past fall is quickly paying dividends for the Chinese carrier when it comes to making inroads in this country.

Hainan began a codeshare agreement with WestJet on Sept. 12, a development that was the result of lengthy negotiations and makes Hainan’s service from both Calgary and Toronto to Beijing more accessible to people in provinces ranging from Nova Scotia to B.C., reports Ian Stalker in this week’s digital edition of Travel Courier.

Throughfares are available.

“It’s a very good deal for both airlines,” Maurice Heroux of Hainan’s Toronto office told Travel Courier following a Jan. 13 reception in Toronto, adding it provides “better pricing” for those in a host of cities – including Edmonton, Halifax, Kelowna, Ottawa, Regina, Montreal, Vancouver, Winnipeg and Victoria – who want to travel with Hainan to the Chinese capital.

Hainan marked its sixth anniversary of Toronto service in November. Calgary-Beijing service began in June and was the first non-stop service between those cities.

Heroux conceded that Air Canada – which also has Canada-Beijing service – is better known in this country than his carrier.

But Heroux adds that Hainan’s profile outside the Chinese-Canadian community is on the upswing, in part because of the WestJet connection but as well because it’s now using a B787-900 Dreamliner on its Toronto flights. Among other things, that aircraft offers free WiFi to all passengers.

For the full story check out this week’s digital edition of Travel Courier by clicking here.