Swoop (airline)

Swoop is a Canadian ultra low-cost carrier (ULCC) owned by WestJet. It was officially announced on September 27, 2017,[3] and began flights on June 20, 2018.[4] The airline is based in Calgary[3] and was named after WestJet's desire to "swoop" (or jump) into the Canadian market with a new business model.[3] Shortly after launch, WestJet announced that Swoop would not be based in Calgary, but in another nearby market like Edmonton, Abbotsford, Hamilton or Winnipeg.[5] On February 1, 2018,[4] Swoop officially began selling tickets to the public, announcing John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport as their main base and Edmonton International Airport as their western base.[6] In October 2020, Swoop switched its eastern base to Toronto Pearson International Airport.[7]

Swoop
A Boeing 737-800 at Harry Reid Airport
IATA ICAO Callsign
WO WSW SWOOP
Founded2017
Commenced operationsJune 20, 2018
AOC #Canada 18771,[1] United States 5OOF541F[2]
Operating bases
Focus cities
Fleet size10
Destinations23
Parent companyWestJet
HeadquartersCalgary, Alberta, Canada
WebsiteFlySwoop.com

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,[8] 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. [9]

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.[3]

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. Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport, Edmonton International Airport, and Halifax Stanfield International Airport were also launch destinations. The fleet of 2 aircraft was planned to be expanded to 6 by the end of 2018 and to 10 in 2019.[10]

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.[11] 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.[12] On October 20, 2018, Swoop delayed launch of American flights until October 27, 2018, due to a lack of U.S. approval.[13] Starting April and May 2019, Swoop began launching service to London and Kelowna.[14] On June 24, 2019, Swoop announced Los Cabos as a new destination, which commenced in November 2019.[15] On December 19, 2019, Swoop announced three new summer seasonal destinations including Victoria, Kamloops, and one U.S. destination, San Diego.[16] On January 9, 2020, Swoop expands its East Coast network with three new destinations to St. John's, Charlottetown, and Moncton.[17]

Fleet

Current fleet

Swoop operates a fleet composed entirely of Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft, specifically the Boeing 737-800. Swoop plans to operate a fleet of six aircraft in 2018, scaling up to 10 aircraft by spring 2020.[18][3][19]

Swoop fleet
Aircraft In
service		 Orders Passengers Notes/sources
Boeing 737-800 10 — 189 39 seats with extra legroom
Boeing 737 MAX 8 — 6 TBA Deliveries in 2022[20]
Total 10 6

Swoop's current fleet is equipped with Recaro BL3520 leather seats and pink antimacassars over the headrests. Each seat includes a tray-table, seat pocket, an adjustable headrest, and movable armrests (except in row 1).

Livery

Swoop's fleet of aircraft are 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 are painted in a similar pattern to the tail, pink with a white stripe through it. This pattern is the same on the inside and outside of the winglets. Each aircraft is given a name painted in pink below the windows of the cockpit on both sides of the aircraft.[21]

In-flight entertainment, WiFi, and in-seat power

Swoop offers in-flight entertainment and internet through their mobile app. The Swoop app can be accessed on any web-based mobile device, including phones, tablets and laptops. The in-flight entertainment portion of the app is called "Swoop Stream". Through Swoop Stream, guests are able to watch the latest movies and television shows streaming on Swoop flights.[22] However, effective March 1, 2019, Swoop began removing the free in-flight entertainment services from its fleet of Boeing 737 NG aircraft. Swoop continues to offer internet on all flights; the internet can be accessed through Swoop Stream and is available for a fee based on time. [22]

Swoop's fleet is equipped with AC power and USB ports at every seat on each of their aircraft.[21]

Destinations

Swoop focuses on point-to-point flying, not offering connections. In terms of destinations, Swoop's eastern base is Toronto Pearson International Airport, and its western base is Edmonton International Airport[23][24] Some destinations, such as Sangster International Airport are served seasonally.[25][26] Swoop has an agreement with travel company Sunwing that allows passengers out of Hamilton, Abbotsford, Winnipeg and Edmonton to book Sunwing vacation packages with Swoop flights.[27] During the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of destinations were temporarily suspended.

Swoop operates or has operated to the following destinations as of March 2022:[28]

Country Province/state City Airport Notes Refs
CanadaAlbertaEdmontonEdmonton International AirportWestern hub
British ColumbiaAbbotsfordAbbotsford International Airport
British ColumbiaComoxCFB ComoxBegins June 9, 2022
British ColumbiaKelownaKelowna International Airport
British ColumbiaVictoriaVictoria International Airport
ManitobaWinnipegWinnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport
New BrunswickMonctonGreater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International AirportBegins May 9, 2022
New BrunswickSaint JohnSaint John Airportbegins May 12, 2022
Newfoundland and LabradorDeer LakeDeer Lake Regional Airportbegins May 21, 2022
Newfoundland and LabradorSt. John'sSt. John's International Airportbegins June 13, 2022
Nova ScotiaHalifaxHalifax Stanfield International Airport
OntarioHamilton, ONJohn C. Munro Hamilton International Airport
OntarioLondon, ONLondon International AirportBegins June 2, 2022
OntarioOttawaOttawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport
OntarioTorontoToronto Pearson International AirportEastern hub
Prince Edward IslandCharlottetownCharlottetown Airport
SaskatchewanReginaRegina International Airportbegins June 16, 2022
SaskatchewanSaskatoonSaskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International AirportBegins June 14, 2022
CubaMatanzasVaraderoJuan Gualberto Gómez AirportSeasonal
Dominican RepublicLa AltagraciaPunta CanaPunta Cana International AirportSeasonal
Jamaica Saint James ParishMontego BaySangster International AirportSeasonal
MexicoBaja California SurSan José del CaboLos Cabos International AirportSeasonal
JaliscoPuerto VallartaLicenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport
Quintana RooCancúnCancún International AirportSeasonal
SinaloaMazatlánMazatlán International AirportSeasonal
United StatesArizonaPhoenixPhoenix–Mesa Gateway Airport
CaliforniaBurbankHollywood Burbank Airportbegins June 23, 2022
California Palm Springs Palm Springs International Airport Seasonal
California San Diego San Diego International Airport Seasonal [29]
CaliforniaSan FranciscoSan Francisco International Airportbegins June 6, 2022
FloridaSanfordSanford International AirportSeasonal[30]
Florida St. Petersburg St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport Seasonal [29]
IllinoisChicagoO'Hare International Airportbegins May 30, 2022
NevadaLas VegasHarry Reid International Airport
New YorkNew York CityJohn F. Kennedy International Airportbegins June 20, 2022
TennesseeNashvilleNashville International Airportbegins May 26, 2022

References
  1. Transport Canada (2019-08-28), Civil Aviation Services (CAS) AOC. wwwapps.tc.gc.ca.
  2. "Federal Aviation Administration - Airline Certificate Information - Detail View". av-info.faa.gov. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  3. "Meet Swoop". Swoop. September 27, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  4. "Swoop is on sale". Swoop. February 1, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  5. Tucker, Erika (August 7, 2017). "New WestJet discount airline 'may be based outside of Calgary'". Global News. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  6. "Route Map: See where we fly". Swoop Airlines. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  7. "Swoop Officially Begins Operations Out Of Toronto Pearson". Simple Flying. October 25, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  8. "WestJet plans to launch new discount airline". Maclean's. August 31, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  9. "WestJet delays launch of discount airline until 2018". CBC News. August 31, 2018.
  10. "Low-cost airline Swoop's maiden flight lands in Abbotsford". June 19, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  11. "U.S. gets service from Canada's ultra-low-fare airline, Swoop". Swoop. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  12. "Swoop announces service to Mexico". Swoop. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  13. "Swoop airlines waiting on U.S. approval". CHCH. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  14. Swoop Inc. (May 24, 2019). "Swoop lifts-off with three more inaugural summer routes". Retrieved January 30, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. "2019 Winter Schedule". FlySwoop.com. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  16. Swoop Inc. (December 13, 2019). "Swoop Continues North American Expansion with Release of 2020 Summer Schedule". Retrieved January 30, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. Swoop Inc. (January 9, 2020). "Swoop grows its East Coast network". Retrieved January 30, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. "Canadian Civil Aircraft Register: Quick Search Result for Swoop". Transport Canada. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  19. "Global Airline Guide 2019 (Part One)". Airliner World. October 2019: 9.
  20. "Canadian LCC Swoop to Add 6 Boeing 737 MAXs to Its Fleet". February 9, 2022.
  21. "Our fleet | Swoop". Swoop. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  22. "Swoop makes travel easy with their new mobile app | Swoop". Swoop. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  23. "Ultra Low Cost Airline". Swoop. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  24. Heidenreich, Phil. "Low-cost airline Swoop to offer direct flights between Edmonton and Winnipeg this fall". Global News. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  25. "Swoop adds Jamaica service with seasonal flights to Montego Bay from Hamilton". CTV News. September 12, 2018. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  26. "Where We Fly, Destinations, Route Map | Swoop". Swoop. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  27. "Sunwing partners with Swoop". Swoop.
  28. "Swoop Airlines". Swoop Airlines. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  29. "Where we fly". Swoop. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  30. "Where we fly".
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.