TORONTO — Is there a new transborder joint venture on the way?

First reported by Ottawa insider news source Blacklock’s Reporter and picked up by the Western Standard, the news is that Transport Canada has brought on outside consultants to analyze the impact, economic and financial, of a new joint venue by two unnamed carriers – one Canadian, the other U.S.

Canada’s major carriers already have a long list of joint venture partnerships with U.S. airlines. Air Canada’s JV list includes long-time partner (and fellow Star Alliance member) United Airlines.

WestJet’s primary joint venture partner in the U.S. is Delta.

Porter doesn’t currently have a JV with American Airlines, but it does have a codeshare partnership with AA, and as reported earlier this month, Porter and AA are reportedly expanding their codeshare network, and WestJet is doing the same with Delta.