Swoop_(airline)

Swoop (airline)

Swoop (airline)

Defunct ultra low-cost airline of Canada (2017–2023)

Swoop was a Canadian ultra low-cost airline owned by WestJet. The airline was headquartered in Calgary, Alberta and was named after WestJet's desire to "swoop" (or jump) into the Canadian market with a new business model. It was officially announced on September 27, 2017,[4] and began flights on June 20, 2018.[5] The Airline had bases In Hamilton (ON), Toronto-Pearson, Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Abbotsford. However, Swoop’s bases in Winnipeg and Edmonton closed on October 20, 2023; the Toronto base closed a few days later on October 25. Swoop was integrated into WestJet’s mainline operation on October 28, 2023.[6]

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History

In April 2017, WestJet announced that it was planning to launch a new airline to enter the growing ultra low-cost carrier (ULCC) market and compete against NewLeaf (now Flair Airlines). The airline was planned to launch in late 2017,[7] but in August 2017 it was delayed to June 2018 after switching to a lower-cost booking system. The delay also allowed WestJet to reconfigure aircraft for Swoop over the spring 2018 season.[8]

Swoop was officially announced on September 27, 2017, and was expected to have base fares 40% lower than WestJet's fares. It was announced that Swoop would launch with six Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Tickets first became available for sale on February 1, 2018.[4] Following its announcement, WestJet announced that Swoop's flights would not be based in Calgary, but in another nearby market such as Edmonton, Abbotsford, Hamilton or Winnipeg.[9] On February 1, 2018,[5] Swoop officially began selling tickets to the public, announcing John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport as its main base and Edmonton International Airport as its western base.[10]

On June 20, 2018, Swoop officially launched with two Boeing 737-800 aircraft in its fleet. The first flight was from John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport to Abbotsford International Airport, with passengers paying an average of $103 for the flight.[11] Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport, Edmonton International Airport, and Halifax Stanfield International Airport were also launch destinations.[12] The fleet of 2 aircraft was planned to be expanded to 6 by the end of 2018 and to 10 in 2019.

On August 2, 2018, Swoop announced that it was to become the first Canadian ultra low-cost airline to fly to the United States, launching service to Las Vegas, Phoenix (Mesa), Tampa, Orlando, and Fort Lauderdale throughout the month of October 2018.[13] However, prior to launching service in October, Swoop announced service to four more Mexican and Caribbean destinations launching in December 2018 and January 2019; Puerto Vallarta, Montego Bay, Cancun and Mazatlan.[14] On October 20, 2018, Swoop delayed launch of its flights to the United States until October 27, 2018, due to its lack of U.S. federal approvals.[15] Starting April and May 2019, Swoop began launching service to London and Kelowna.[16] On June 24, 2019, Swoop announced Los Cabos as a new destination, which commenced in November 2019.[17] On December 19, 2019, Swoop announced three new summer seasonal destinations including Victoria, Kamloops, and one U.S. destination, San Diego.[18] On January 9, 2020, Swoop expanded its East Coast network with three new destinations to St. John's, Charlottetown, and Moncton.[19] In October 2020, Swoop switched its eastern base to Toronto Pearson International Airport.[20]

In February 2022, Swoop announced that it would add 6 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to its fleet,[21] subsequently announcing that it planned to begin operating the aircraft during June 2022.[22]

On June 9, 2023 it was announced that Swoop would be integrated and shut down at the end of its current published schedule on October 28, 2023.[23]

Destinations

Main article: List of Swoop destinations

Prior to October 28, 2023, Swoop's route network consisted of destinations across North America and the Caribbean. The airline focused on point-to-point flying and did not offer connections. The airline additionally had an agreement with Sunwing Travel Group that allowed passengers out of Hamilton, Abbotsford, Winnipeg and Edmonton to book Sunwing vacation packages with Swoop flights.[24]

Fleet

A Swoop Boeing 737-800 at Las Vegas

As of 27 October 2023, Swoop operated an all-Boeing 737 fleet composed of the following aircraft:[25][26]

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Livery

Swoop's fleet of aircraft was painted with the Swoop logo large across the fuselage, and a pink tail with a white line leading up to a silhouette of an aircraft. The winglets were painted in a similar pattern to the tail, pink with a white stripe through it. This pattern was the same on the inside and outside of the winglets. Each aircraft was given a name painted in pink below the windows of the cockpit on both sides of the aircraft.[26]

References

  1. [1]
    "ICAO Designators for Canadian Aircraft Operating Agencies, Aeronautical Authorities and Services" (PDF). Nav Canada. May 4, 2023. p. 7. Retrieved February 26, 2023. Swoop: WSW, SWOOP
  2. [2]
    Transport Canada (2019-08-28), Civil Aviation Services (CAS) AOC. wwwapps.tc.gc.ca.
  3. [3]
    "Airline Certificate Information - Detail View". Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  4. [4]
    "Meet Swoop". Swoop (Press release). Bloomberg News. September 27, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  5. [5]
    "Swoop is on sale". Swoop (Press release). February 1, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  6. [6]
    "WestJet shutting down discount airline Swoop". CBC.ca. June 9, 2023. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  7. [7]
    "WestJet plans to launch new discount airline". Maclean's. August 31, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  8. [8]
    "WestJet delays launch of discount airline until 2018". CBC News. August 31, 2018.
  9. [9]
    Tucker, Erika (August 7, 2017). "New WestJet discount airline 'may be based outside of Calgary'". Global News. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  10. [10]
    "Where We Fly, Destinations, Route Map". Swoop. Archived from the original on August 2, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  11. [11]
    "Low-cost airline Swoop's maiden flight lands in Abbotsford". June 19, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  12. [12]
    "Swoop's wheels are up: Inaugural flight departs Hamilton, Ontario". Swoop (Press release). Cision. June 20, 2018. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  13. [13]
    "U.S. gets service from Canada's ultra-low-fare airline, Swoop". Swoop (Press release). Archived from the original on August 3, 2018. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  14. [14]
    "Swoop announces service to Mexico". Swoop (Press release). Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  15. [15]
    "Swoop airlines waiting on U.S. approval". CHCH. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  16. [16]
    "Swoop lifts-off with three more inaugural summer routes". Swoop (Press release). May 24, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  17. [17]
    "Swoop releases its 2019 Winter schedule, adds Los Cabos to its network". Swoop (Press release). Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  18. [18]
    "Swoop Continues North American Expansion with Release of 2020 Summer Schedule". Swoop (Press release). December 13, 2019. Archived from the original on January 30, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  19. [19]
    "Swoop grows its East Coast network". Swoop (Press release). January 9, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  20. [20]
    Singh, Jay (October 25, 2020). "Swoop Officially Begins Operations Out Of Toronto Pearson". Simple Flying. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  21. [21]
    Mehta, Davansh (February 9, 2022). "Canadian LCC Swoop to Add 6 Boeing 737 MAXs to Its Fleet". Simple Flying.
  22. [22]
    Liu, Jim (June 5, 2022). "Swoop lists Boeing 737 MAX 8 June 2022 operations". AeroRoutes. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  23. [23]
    "WestJet shutting down discount airline Swoop". CBC.ca. June 9, 2023. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  24. [24]
    "Sunwing partners with Swoop to offer customers even more travel options this winter". Swoop (Press release). September 27, 2019.
  25. [25]
    "Canadian Civil Aircraft Register: Quick Search Result for Swoop". Transport Canada. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  26. [26]
    "Our Fleet". Swoop. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  27. [27]
    "Swoop Conducts Final Flight As it Merges With WestJet". SimpleFlying. Retrieved October 29, 2023.

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