Skift Take
Canada’s newest airline, Swoop, is now up and running with some of the lowest base fares in Canada. While an important milestone, the larger focus continues to be on WestJet’s challenging financial year and ability to execute several big projects at once.
WestJet Airlines’ new ultra low-cost carrier Swoop descended into the market on June 20, bringing an unbundled business model to a country where new entrants typically have had a hard time breaking in.
However, the carrier is banking that its executive team, as well as backing from parent company WestJet and a focus on technology, will set it apart from past failures and current competition. And even if it doesn't succeed as a standalone entity, its presence in the market may help WestJet fend off new competition from Canadian ultra-low-cost-carriers.
Swoop flies to 10 destinations in the United States and Canada, and will add more international destinations in coming weeks, including service to Montego Bay, Jamaica (Dec. 16) and three Mexican destinations: Puerto Vallarta (Jan. 8), Cancún (Jan. 14) and Mazatlán (Jan. 20).
Swoop remains a small operation, and will see only measured growth in 2019. Right now it flies six Boeing 737-800s acquired from WestJet, outfitted with 189 seats, or 21 more than they had with WestJet. Swoop plans to add four more jets next year, Swoop President Steven Greenway told Skift.
The carrier is offering some of the lowest base fares in the market — the cheapest fare in the network is C$9, or about $6.75 U.S., each way between Edmont
