Fiji Airways and WestJet request via US codeshare rights

By Andrew Curran.

Air Pacific Limited, trading as Fiji Airways, has applied to the US Department of Transportation to start codesharing with WestJet and its subsidiary, Encore.

The application, submitted on April 24, 2026, seeks authority for WestJet to place its WS designator code on Fiji Airways - operated flights from points behind Fiji, via Fiji and intermediate points, to destinations in the United States and beyond.

For their part, WestJet and Encore are seeking approval to place Fiji Airways’ FJ designator code on flights operated by WestJet and Encore from points behind Canada, via Canada and intermediate points, to destinations in the United States and beyond.

The three airlines are seeking to begin codesharing as soon as possible and have requested an expedited decision.

Airlines want to funnel traffic through US airports

Neither WestJet nor Encore currently fly to Fiji, although Fiji Airways operates twice-weekly services to Vancouver. Indicating the carrier is keen to develop the market, Fiji Airways plans to replace the A330-200s currently operating the route with the more modern and comfortable A350-900s later this year.

However, the application is not focused on traffic carried on the existing Nadi – Vancouver services. Instead, the airlines intend to funnel traffic through US airports and connect passengers onwards from there.

All three airlines operate services between their home countries and the United States.

“The requested authorisation is intended to enable Fiji Airways to market Fiji – Canada transportation,” the filing states. “Fiji Airways does not intend to market this codeshare service to passengers travelling solely between Canada and the United States.”

"The requested authorisation is intended to enable WestJet to market Canada –Fiji transportation to its passengers,” the filing continues. “WestJet does not intend to market this codeshare service to passengers travelling solely between Fiji and the United States.”

Specifically, WestJet and Encore want to place their designator codes on the following Fiji Airways-operated routes:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Nadi (NAN).
• San Francisco (SFO) – Nadi (NAN).
• Honolulu (HNL) – Nadi (NAN).
• Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) – Nadi (NAN).

The filing was made before Fiji Airways announced its decision to axe its Dallas flights in September.

Fiji Airways, meanwhile, wants to place its FJ designator code on the following WestJet and/or Encore-operated routes:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Calgary (YYC).
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Edmonton (YEG).
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Vancouver (YVR).
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Toronto (YYZ).
• San Francisco (SFO) – Calgary (YYC).
• San Francisco (SFO) – Edmonton (YEG).
• San Francisco (SFO) – Vancouver (YVR).
• Honolulu (HNL) – Calgary (YYC).
• Honolulu (HNL) – Edmonton (YEG).
• Honolulu (HNL) – Vancouver (YVR).

Request in line with current air services agreements

According to the filing, the requested authority is consistent with the 2007 US – Canada Air Transport Agreement, Article 11(6) of which authorises cooperative marketing arrangements, including codesharing, with third-country airlines.

The request is also consistent with the Open Skies agreement between the United States and Fiji, signed in 2024, which permits cooperative marketing arrangements, including codesharing, with third-country airlines.

“Blanket authorisations are in the public interest because they enable codeshare partners to develop the full range of services permitted under applicable air services agreements,” the filing states.

“The blanket codeshare authorisations requested herein are consistent with the US - Canada and US - Fiji agreements and, therefore, with the public interest. The services contemplated by WestJet and Fiji Airways will provide a more efficient use of capacity in the marketplace and will help maximise the service options available to the travelling and shipping public.”

A polling letter sent to United Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines, National Airlines, JetBlue, Eastern Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Allegiant Air, and Alaska Airlines/Hawaiian Airlines did not receive any objections, although not all parties responded before the deadline.

You can read the full application here.

Photo: AI-Generated.

Contact the writer: andrew@aerosouthpacific.com