Swoop, Canada’s leading ultra-low fare airline, today announced it will grow its fleet from 10 to 16 aircraft with the acquisition of six new Boeing MAX-8 aircraft. Canada’s fast growing ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) confirmed it will begin receiving all six aircraft this summer as the airline rapidly expands to meet peak season travel demand.
Alongside this fleet growth, Swoop will significantly expand its domestic network, adding non-stop flights to Newfoundland and increasing service in Atlantic Canada. The ULCC will also add six new routes and capacity in Ontario and the Prairies in preparation for Canada’s busy summer travel season. The airline’s announced expansion comes as Swoop reports significantly increased passenger numbers and record bookings domestically.
Today’s announced expansion will bring the ULCC’s total non-stop domestic routes served to 37 this summer and includes a significant investment in Atlantic Canada.
Significant expansion and investment in Atlantic Canada
Swoop’s investments in Atlantic Canada will see the airline begin service at three new destinations while increasing capacity across the region by 273 per cent compared to pre-pandemic levels.
“Swoop is pleased to support Newfoundland and Labrador’s Come Home 2022 campaign and stimulate recovery of the visitor economy with access to affordable air travel,” said van der Stege. “We know how important the re-opening of travel and tourism is for regional economic recovery and continue to call on the federal government to outline a roadmap for the recovery of air travel that is based on science and reflective of the current realities of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Newfoundland and Labrador
Deer Lake – Hamilton, 2x weekly (May 21)
St. John’s – Hamilton, 5x weekly (June 13)
Deer Lake – Toronto, 2x weekly (June 20)
New Brunswick
Moncton – Hamilton – 4x weekly (May 9)
Saint John – Toronto – 4x weekly (May 12)
Moncton – Edmonton – 2x weekly (May 9)
Prince Edward Island
Charlottetown – Hamilton – 4x weekly (May 1)
Charlottetown – Toronto – 3x weekly (May 2)
Charlottetown – Edmonton – 2x weekly (May 1)
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Halifax – Edmonton – 5x weekly (May 1)
Halifax – Ottawa – Daily (June 19)
Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan to benefit from increased domestic capacity
Today’s network expansion announcement also includes new routes and increased frequencies in previously announced new stations: Ottawa, Saskatoon and Regina.
Ontario
Ottawa – Winnipeg – 4x weekly (June 19)
Winnipeg – Toronto – Daily (June 20)
Saskatchewan
Saskatoon – Winnipeg – 2x weekly (June 14)
Saskatoon – Toronto – 2x weekly (June 22)
Regina – Winnipeg – 2x weekly (June 16)
Regina – Toronto – 2x weekly (June 22)
Demand for affordable travel equates to record new bookings and job opportunities across Canada
Throughout the pandemic the ULCC model has proven especially resilient, with Swoop carrying around one million travellers in 2021. Despite ongoing travel restrictions Swoop saw strong demand for both domestic and international travel over the peak holiday period, a trend that has continued into the new year. The airline further demonstrated operational resilience, ranking amongst the most reliable airlines in Canada/North America, with a flight completion rate of 99.4 per cent and on-time arrival of 78 per cent in 2021.
