I’m not sure many saw this coming at all but, Cathay Pacific has just announced a partnership with Air Canada. The partnership means the two airlines will be codesharing selected services and their frequent flyer programs will have reciprocal benefits. The partnership is set to start the 12th of January 2017. Passengers will be able to buy a single ticket to connect onto either Canada or Asia with luggage checked the whole way through to your final destination.
Per Cathay Pacific,
“This agreement with Cathay Pacific will offer Air Canada customers more travel options and reciprocal mileage accrual and redemption benefits when travelling to many important destinations in Southeast Asia,” said Calin Rovinescu, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada. “It is a strategic co-operation of mutual benefit and underscores our commitment to offer our customers the very highest quality and service connecting Canada and the world. We look forward to introducing Air Canada codeshare service on Cathay Pacific’s flights and welcoming Cathay Pacific’s customers on our flights beginning in the New Year.”
Cathay currently fly directly to Vancouver and Toronto with their 777-300ER and Vancouver will soon have the A350.
Cathay Pacific passengers will be able to easily connect from Cathay flights onto Air Canada. CX will place their codeshare on all major Canadian city routes. Vancouver/Toronto to Halifax, Winnipeg, Victoria, Edmonton, Kelowna, Regina, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec and St. Johns.
Air Canada operate a 777-300ER from Vancouver and a 200ER to Toronto. They airlines also uses a -200LR occasionally.
Air Canada passengers will be able to connect onto Cathay Pacific, and Dragon codeshared flights. The routes they will codeshare on are: Hong Kong – Bangkok, Manila, Cebu, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, Phuket and Chang Mai.
As mentioned earlier members of both Asia Miles and Aeroplan will receive reciprocal benefits. You will be able to earn and redeem miles ONLY for the routes that the two codeshare on.
This is a huge announcement as I would never have thought they would partner. Air Canada only just recently announced a partnership with Virgin Australia.
Images – Cathay Pacific and Air Canada.
