For the first time †an interline agreement between EL AL and the premier Canadian airline WestJet

EL AL CEO Eliezer Shkedi and Canadian airline WestJet CEO Gregg Saretsky have signed an interline agreement, giving EL AL passengers direct access to the Canadian company’s routesAs of September 12, 2011, EL AL passengers can purchase combined tickets for continuing flights from Toronto to one of WestJet’s 30 destinations in Canada, Florida and the Caribbean.

The tickets can be purchased on EL AL’s website, from the company’s customer service line or from travel agents.

The agreement was signed at a ceremony attended by EL AL CEO Eliezer Shkedi, WestJet CEO Gregg Saretsky, who came to Israel especially for the signing, and the Canadian Ambassador to Israel Paul Hunt.

“We are proud to be partners with WestJet Airlines Ltd., a successful company with a great reputation, whose size, routes, and services speak for themselves,” Shkedi said. “EL AL’s agreement with WestJet is an important move, allowing us to offer Israeli and Canadian passengers many new options for the first time.

“The agreement advances EL AL’s strategy to expand its joint ventures and code-sharing agreements with leading airlines in the world. This agreement was preceded by other agreements between EL AL and leading airlines in North America such as JetBlue, American Airlines, Virgin America, and others.

“Teaming up with WestJet, a leading airline in domestic flights in Canada and in flights to the Caribbean, combines the high quality and personal, intimate approach that sets EL AL apart, with the quality and very wide range of possibilities offered by WestJet.

“I hope that in the near future we can expand the agreement between the companies into a code-sharing agreement,” Shkedi concluded.

Saretsky added, “We are happy to team up with EL AL, a first-rate, special company, to offer flights that cross our network of routes for the convenience of our customers, as part of the company’s policy to expand joint ventures with selected companies. This is our 12th partnership. WestJet is looking forward to greeting EL AL customers warmly on its flights.”