CALGARY — WestJet (WS) has announced a fresh interline agreement with Copa Airlines (CM), marking a significant step in its plans to expand its network beyond North America. Under the partnership, WS will launch nonstop service between Calgary and Panama City on December 13, 2025.
With this setup, passengers flying out of Canada will be able to travel on a single booking, connect through Calgary, and continue their journey on CM’s network into Central and South America.
Bags will be tagged straight through to the final stop, eliminating the need for multiple check-ins or handling separate tickets, a common issue that has often made such trips inconvenient in the past.
Destinations Now Within Reach
From CM’s hub at Tocumen International Airport (PTY) in Panama, Canadian travelers gain access to 37 additional cities in Latin America and the Caribbean. Some of the major destinations include:
- Argentina – Buenos Aires (EZE)
- Brazil – São Paulo (GRU), Rio de Janeiro (GIG), Porto Alegre (POA), Brasília (BSB), Belo Horizonte (CNF)
- Colombia – Bogotá (BOG), Medellín (MDE), Cartagena (CTG), Cali (CLO)
- Chile – Santiago (SCL)
- Peru – Lima (LIM)
- Uruguay – Montevideo (MVD)
- Central America & Caribbean – Guatemala City (GUA), San José (SJO), Belize City (BZE), Port of Spain (POS), Santo Domingo (SDQ), Kingston (KIN)
On the reverse side, CM passengers connecting through PTY will also have simplified access to WS’s network, reaching Canadian cities beyond Calgary.
Calgary’s Role as a Global Hub
This interline agreement highlights Calgary International Airport’s (YYC) increasing role as WestJet’s main hub. Unlike Toronto or Vancouver, Calgary offers shorter and more direct routing to Panama and further into Latin America.
In recent years, WS has been relocating much of its long-haul flying to Calgary, a move that has gradually elevated the airport’s status as a gateway to international markets.
The timing is notable as well. WS recently completed its integration with Sunwing earlier this year, which boosted its fleet and network in the leisure segment.
The partnership with CM builds on that growth, offering Canadians more access to business centers and holiday destinations in the southern hemisphere.
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Benefits for Passengers
- Simplified travel process – A single ticket and through-checked baggage improve convenience, especially for longer itineraries.
- Leisure opportunities – Canadians can now easily reach destinations such as Cartagena, Rio de Janeiro, or Montevideo, booked together with their domestic flights.
- Business links – Stronger connectivity into cities like Bogotá, São Paulo, and Santiago supports growing commercial ties between Canada and Latin America.
Looking at the Bigger Picture
Since starting in 1996 with only three aircraft, WS has grown to operate nearly 200 planes and serve over 100 destinations worldwide. The interline with CM is another step in the carrier’s evolution from a low-cost domestic airline into a player with a broader international reach.
John Weatherill, WestJet’s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, said the agreement complements the Calgary–Panama City route, creating more seamless travel opportunities for passengers heading into South America.
For CM, the deal expands its footprint in Canada without requiring the addition of its own flights north of Panama. By linking two networks together, both carriers create an alternative to U.S. transit points such as Miami (MIA), Houston (IAH), or Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW), providing passengers with another option for moving between continents.
Bottom Line
The WS-CM interline is more than a scheduling adjustment. It reinforces Calgary’s position as a connecting hub, provides passengers with more direct access to Latin America, and gives both carriers an edge in a competitive marketplace.
As the agreement begins in December, it will be watched closely by the industry to see how travelers adopt the new routes and whether this paves the way for deeper cooperation in the future.
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Featured image: Michael Rodeback/Airways
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