Qatar Airways and WestJet Launch a Codeshare: Nine More Canadian Cities

The short version: Qatar Airways and WestJet announced a two-way codeshare on 26 October 2026. Qatar puts its QR code on WestJet flights from Toronto and Montreal to nine Canadian cities, and WestJet puts its code on Qatar's non-stop flights from Toronto and Montreal to Doha. At the same time Qatar has gone daily on both routes. What the announcements do not say yet: whether you can earn Qpoints or Avios on the WestJet flights.

What was announced

• QR code on WestJet: Qatar Airways passengers can connect in Toronto (YYZ) and Montreal (YUL) to Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Ottawa, Regina, Saskatoon, St. John's and Winnipeg, on WestJet-operated flights sold under a QR flight number. WestJet's own release speaks of 11 Canadian destinations.
• WestJet code on Qatar: WestJet adds its code to Qatar's non-stop Toronto–Doha and Montreal–Doha flights, which WestJet calls a first for its guests. In a later phase, WestJet plans to code-share on selected destinations beyond Doha.
• One ticket, through-checked bags: codeshare journeys are booked on a single ticket with baggage checked through to the final destination.
• More Qatar flights: from 25 October 2026 Qatar Airways increased Canada from 12 to 14 weekly flights, so both Toronto and Montreal are now daily.

The deal did not come out of nowhere. In August 2026 Canada's transport regulator licensed WestJet to operate codeshare services under the arrangement between Canada and Qatar, and WestJet describes its relationship with Qatar Airways as more than a decade old.

Why it matters

Until now Qatar's Canadian network ended at the two gateways. A trip from Doha, Delhi or Singapore to Calgary or Vancouver meant a separate ticket for the last leg, with your own risk on the connection. With the codeshare, the whole journey can sit on one Qatar Airways ticket, with protected connections and bags checked through.

For WestJet it works the other way round: Canadians from Calgary or Winnipeg get a one-ticket route to Doha and, through Qatar's network of more than 170 destinations, onward to places like Nairobi, Jeddah or Singapore. For WestJet, which is not in an alliance, this is a valuable long-haul partner without having to fly to the Gulf itself.

What about points and status?

This is where the announcements are thin. WestJet says its guests can earn WestJet Rewards on the full itinerary when they book a codeshare journey. Qatar's release says nothing about the Privilege Club: no word on earning Qpoints or Avios on WestJet-operated flights, on redeeming Avios for WestJet flights, or on status benefits.

• Qatar-operated flights (Toronto or Montreal to Doha and beyond) earn in the Privilege Club exactly as before.
• WestJet-operated flights under a QR number only earn Qpoints and Avios once WestJet appears as an earning partner in the Privilege Club. Until it is on Qatar's partner page, do not count on it.
• oneworld benefits do not apply on WestJet, because WestJet is not a oneworld member. Lounge access and priority on the Canadian leg depend on what the two airlines agree, which has not been published.

We will update this article as soon as Qatar Airways publishes earning rules. Until then, you can see what the Qatar flight itself earns in our Qatar Airways Avios & Qpoints calculator.

How it fits

WestJet is building a broad partner network outside the alliances; Condor, for example, is also a WestJet partner, as we described in our article on Condor and oneworld. For Qatar Airways, the codeshare closes a gap in a market where it flies only to Toronto and Montreal: it does not need to fly to Calgary or Vancouver to sell a ticket there.

Verified 26 October 2026. Sources: Qatar Airways press release of 26 October 2026; WestJet press release, 26 October 2026; Open Jaw, 17 August 2026 (codeshare licence).