Southwest, WestJet link

Code sharing will bring added international service to BWI

What WestJet won't add is routes to Europe or Asia, because long intercontinental flights aren't possible on 737 planes, said Richard Bartrem, a spokesman for WestJet.

Because it's nearly impossible for a U.S. carrier to merge with a foreign airline, a code-share marketing arrangement is an easier and cheaper way for an airline to gain access to international markets, said Bob Harrell, a New York-based airline analyst.

"You get some of the benefits of running a single operation but none of the complications," said Harrell, president of Harrell Associates, a travel industry consulting group. "WestJet is a Southwest clone basically. There's a lot of synergy between the philosophical approaches of both businesses."

Speaking at BWI a year ago, Southwest CEO Gary C. Kelly said the airline also expected to offer codeshare connections to Europe by 2010. But yesterday Southwest wouldn't confirm at what date a partnership with a European carrier might materialize.

"Our first interest is going to be in that near-international - Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean," Eichinger said. "Once we get those up and running, then the next step would be to look at other international service. But we're not there yet."

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