The already delayed implementation of a Southwest-WestJet codeshare agreement has run into further trouble as Southwest says reports of a possible WestJet-Delta codeshare "could be inconsistent" with the Southwest-WestJet agreement.
WestJet reportedly says that a Delta codeshare could precede WestJet's codeshare with Southwest as news stories circulated that Delta plans on transferring slots at LaGuardia to WestJet.
So the Southwest-WestJet codeshare now appears to be in doubt.
In a press release, Bob Jordan, Southwest's executive vice president of strategy and planning, states: "The Southwest/WestJet project was on target in accordance with a mutually agreed upon timetable. However, WestJet in recent weeks requested material and significant changes to our agreement that we could not accept."
In 2008, WestJet and Southwest signed an agreement where WestJet flights could be booked on Southwest.com.
A codeshare agreement between the two had been billed as a perfect fit between two low cost carriers with similar cultures.
The pact was supposed to go into effect in late 2010, but in February WestJet announced that the timetable would be delayed and one interpretation of the the airline's statement is that it seemed to be blaming the missed deadline on its transition in late 2009 to the SabreSonic reservations system.
WestJet stated in February: "We believe that the enhanced capabilities of our new reservation system will allow us to implement additional seamless strategic partnerships with other airlines. Our implementation plans for code-sharing with Southwest Airlines may extend beyond the late 2010 date previously announced; however, exact timing is not currently defined."
However, a month later, in mid-March, WestJet clearly pinned the blown deadline, not on SabreSonic, but on Southwest.
"Our implementation of SabreSonic enables us to be code-share ready from a system perspective," WestJet stated, adding, "Southwest Airlines’ readiness has pushed deployment of the code-share beyond the late 2010 date previously announced."
So, if WestJet is blaming the delay on a lack of Southwest readiness, then Southwest claims WestJet has muddied up the implementation by trying to alter the agreement.
Meanwhile, enter Delta and its LaGuardia slots, and a new President and CEO at WestJet, Gregg Saretsky, who took over April 1.
Saretsky took over on the same day that Southwest issued its press release.
Jordan of Southwest says in that press statement that WestJet has not notified Southwest of any intent to terminate their agreement, but if WestJet does so, then "Southwest remains very interested in offering our loyal customers service to Canada via the most efficient means possible."
In other words, if the codeshare evaporates, then in some form, Southwest would go head to head with WestJet on some Canadian routes.