Swoop (airline)


Swoop is a Canadian ultra low-cost carrier owned by WestJet. It was officially announced on September 27, 2017, and began flights on June 20, 2018. The airline is based in Calgary, Alberta, and was named after WestJet's desire to "swoop" into the Canadian market with a new business model. Shortly after launch, WestJet announced that Swoop would not be based in Calgary, but in another nearby market like Edmonton, Abbotsford, Hamilton or Winnipeg. On February 1, 2018, Swoop officially began selling tickets to the public, announcing John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport as their main hub and Edmonton International Airport as their western hub.

History

In April 2017, WestJet announced that it was planning to launch a new airline to enter the growing ultra low-cost carrier market and compete against NewLeaf. The airline was planned to launch in late 2017, 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.
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.
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.
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, Tampa, Orlando, and Fort Lauderdale throughout the month of October 2018. 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. On October 20, 2018, Swoop delayed launch of American flights until October 27, 2018 due to a lack of U.S. approval. Starting April and May 2019, Swoop began launching service to London and Kelowna. On June 24, 2019, Swoop announced Los Cabos as a new destination, which commenced in November 2019. On December 19, 2019, Swoop announced three new summer seasonal destinations with including Victoria, Kamloops, and one U.S. destination, San Diego. On January 9, 2020, Swoop expands its East Coast network with three new destinations to St. John's, Charlottetown, and Moncton.

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.

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.

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. The current names for Swoop's aircraft are:
NameRegistration
#HamiltonC-GDMP
#AbbotsfordC-FPLS
#BobC-GXRW
#JonC-FONK
#ChinookC-FLBV
#OhCanadaC-FYBK
#BruceC-FLSF
#Blowin’aGaleC-FYPB
#AuroraC-GNDG

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

Destinations

Swoop focuses on point-to-point flying, not offering connections. In terms of destinations, Swoop's biggest hub is John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport, offering service to almost all destinations. Swoop's western base is Edmonton International Airport. Some destinations, such as Sangster International Airport are served seasonally.
Swoop has an agreement with travel company Sunwing that allows passengers out of Hamilton, London, Abbotsford, Winnipeg and Edmonton to book Sunwing vacation packages with Swoop flights. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the current destinations have been reduced to just Edmonton, Hamilton, Abbotsford and Halifax.
The current destinations are:
CountryProvince/stateCityAirportNotes
CanadaAlbertaEdmontonEdmonton International Airport
CanadaBritish ColumbiaAbbotsfordAbbotsford International Airport
CanadaBritish ColumbiaKelownaKelowna International AirportStarted May 24, 2019
CanadaBritish ColumbiaVictoriaVictoria International AirportStarted April 27, 2020
CanadaManitobaWinnipegWinnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport
CanadaNova ScotiaHalifaxHalifax Stanfield International AirportLaunch destination
CanadaOntarioHamilton, ONJohn C. Munro Hamilton International Airport
CanadaOntarioLondon, ONLondon International AirportStarted April 28, 2019
CanadaPrince Edward IslandCharlottetown, PEICharlottetown AirportStarted June 27, 2020
CanadaNew Brunswick Moncton, NBGreater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International AirportStarted June 24, 2020
CanadaNewfoundland and Labrador St. John's, NLSt. John's International AirportStarted June 22, 2020
Jamaica Saint James ParishMontego BaySangster International AirportStarted December 16, 2018
MexicoBaja California SurLos CabosLos Cabos International AirportStarted November 2, 2019
MexicoJaliscoPuerto VallartaLicenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International AirportStarted January 8, 2019
MexicoQuintana RooCancúnCancún International AirportStarted January 14, 2019
MexicoSinaloaMazatlánMazatlán International AirportStarted January 20, 2019
United StatesArizonaPhoenixPhoenix–Mesa Gateway AirportStarted October 27, 2018
United StatesFloridaFort LauderdaleFort Lauderdale–Hollywood International AirportStarted November 2, 2018
United StatesFloridaOrlandoOrlando International AirportStarted October 27, 2018
United StatesFloridaTampaTampa International AirportStarted October 27, 2018
United StatesNevadaLas VegasMcCarran International AirportStarted October 27, 2018