WN, WS Delaying codeshare Star Up Date

http://www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=1627986

WestJet Airlines Ltd. announced Monday it would be forced to delay the implementation of a new strategic partnership with Southwest Airlines that was slated for the end of the year.

The code-share deal was expected to be a major driver of the WestJet's growth strategy in 2010, allowing the carriers to seamlessly transfer passengers across each others' networks and for WestJet to expand its reach in the United States.

The partnership was expected to be implemented at the end of 2009, when WestJet's new Sabre reservation system is up and running.

Southwest has, however, decided instead to re-direct a portion of its resources dedicated to the code-share project to focus on near-term revenue opportunities.

Kinda surprised at WN's decision, but it woould make sense to focus it towards the new cities WN is opening in 2009. Hope they don't cancel it all out.

Alex