SkyTeam Invests in WestJet With Korean Air and Delta Leading the Way

A WestJet Boeing 737 MAX 8 on approach to Calgary, the airline's primary hub from which it operates its year-round long-haul services. This aircraft type, shown in WestJet's current livery, is used for seasonal transatlantic routes like the new Halifax-Amsterdam service launching in May 2025.

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Alex Achille

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There are two large airlines in Canadian aviation: Air Canada and WestJet. Air Canada is the largest of the two and is part of the Star Alliance. There is no carrier in the country affiliated with another alliance, however, that might change as WestJet receives investments from two of SkyTeam’s largest and most prominent members.

Read the post about the deal closing.

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Korean Air and Delta Take a 25% Stake in WestJet

WestJet has expanded its reach by quite a margin in the past years. The airline now serves destinations in both Europe and Asia evolving from the domestic-focused carrier it once was. Despite remaining an independent airline to this day, not affiliated with any alliance, the carrier does have a standing partnerships with Korean Air and Air France-KLM (we’ll come back to them in a little).

Delta Boeing 737-900 in the foreground at Seattle Tacoma Airport

Now these ties are just going to get stronger as Korean Air and Delta have announced their intent to take a 25% stake in the Canadian airline’s equity. The total value of the transaction? 550 million dollars.

The two SkyTeam airlines will split the investment with:

  • Delta taking a 15% stake for the value of 330 million dollars.
  • Korean Air taking a 10% stake for the value of 220 million dollars.

Nonetheless the Onex Group, current majority stake holders, will continue to call the shots for WestJet.

New Korean Air Livery on Airbus A330-300

Air France-KLM Possibly Getting Involved Too

A third SkyTeam airline might also be getting in on the WestJet deal. The laid down agreement for the purchase of 25% of WestJet states that Delta upon closing could also have Air France-KLM, the largest Europea SkyTeam carrier, also enter the Canadian airline’s equity.

Delta could if necessary approvals arrive on Air France-KLM’s side sell the European group a 2.3% stake in WestJet for a value of 50 million dollars.

It’s likely that this agreement will lead to WestJet and SkyTeam carriers working closer side by side. I would expect to see more joint efforts come to life between SkyTeam and WestJet in the coming future.

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Alex Achille

Ex Emirates Cabin Crew and long time aviation enthusiast. I can remember loving aviation and planes since I was a very little boy. I have developed my passion into a deep knowledge of the sector and industry to offer on my sites in depth and precise analyses of what is going on. I also completed cabin crew training with Ryanair, however, I never worked for the company (more on that another time). Finally I also have taken flying lessons completing my first solo flights.