Southwest Chief Executive Gary Kelly said Southwest - the busiest carrier at McCarran International Airport with about 230 daily round trips - would likely boost the number of flights to and from popular destinations to connect with WestJet flights to and from Canada. WestJet serves several Canadian cities from McCarran.

WestJet, which shares many of Southwest's strategies and philosophies, has been called "Canada's Southwest Airlines" by some aviation watchers.

Southwest's strategic agreement with WestJet was signed in July and at that time both companies said connecting flights would be a part of the arrangement. Las Vegas currently is WestJet's busiest U.S. operation with more than a dozen daily round trips.

Southwest "Fly By": Southwest Airlines jets at McCarran International Airport in August. The airline is in negotiations with McCarran and the Transportation Security Administration to add priority security lanes for Southwest's best customers. STAFF FILE PHOTO

When the deal was announced, both companies said they expected strategies to be in place by the end of 2009.

Kelly said both companies have successful vacation packages in place and would explore ways for Las Vegas to benefit from the arrangement.

McCarran management has said its top priority is to drive visitation to Las Vegas as opposed to serving as a transfer point for fliers.

Meanwhile, Southwest, McCarran and the Transportation Security Administration are in negotiations to add priority security lanes for Southwest's best customers.

Southwest officials said they are in "productive negotiations" with McCarran and the administration to get the program operational by the end of 2008 or early 2009.

Southwest flies more than 1 million passengers a month to and from McCarran.

The company announced its "Fly By" program at many of the 64 airports it serves and is starting it on an airport-by-airport basis in the next few months.

The program was announced last week and will be inaugurated by the end of October at Baltimore-Washington International, Dallas' Love Field, Phoenix Sky Harbor International, Denver International, Los Angeles International, San Francisco International and Orange County's John Wayne Airport.

More airports are expected to be rolled out in November and December.

The priority lanes will be available to the company's "A-list" customers - those who fly 16 round trips on Southwest within a 12-month period. A-List members were mailed temporary identification cards this month and will get permanent cards by the end of the year.

The program also is available to customers who purchase Business Select tickets from the airline.

Business Select, unveiled this year, offers passengers refundable fares and changeable itineraries, priority boarding, bonus credits on the company's frequent-flier program and a free alcoholic beverage.

To access the priority security lanes, customers would present a Business Select boarding pass or the A-list ID card.

Last week, Southwest and McCarran unveiled a new Transportation Security Authority security checkpoint to decrease the lines at the C gate security entrance overlooking the baggage claim area.

Richard N. Velotta covers tourism for In Business Las Vegas and its sister publication, the Las Vegas Sun. He can be reached at 259-4061 or at velotta@lasvegassun.com.