Canada's Swoop eyes "responsible" growth as demand recovers

Canada's WestJet Group clarifies integration timelines

WestJet (WS, Calgary) says it will absorb its ultra-low-cost subsidiary Swoop (WO, Hamilton, ON) by October but will not complete the integration of Sunwing Airlines (WG, Toronto Pearson) until 2024. WestJet Group CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech says combining the three airlines will "provide reliable and affordable travel to a broader spectrum of guests."

Providing an update on timelines earlier this week, Von Hoensbroech said it is business as usual until the WestJet Group finalises the integration process. H said the outcome will increase choices for consumers and make fares more affordable. "The integration of all jets from Sunwing Airlines, Swoop and WestJet into one fleet will provide us with the scale to enhance our collective operational resilience, while offering more affordable fares and vacation opportunities across our entire network.”

Von Hoensbroech recently said that he believes it is "conceptually wrong" to have different airlines in the one group targeting different customer segments. The WestJet Group only finalised its acquisition of Sunwing Airlines and Sunwing Vacations on May 1, almost immediately...

Canada's WestJet to merge Swoop, Sunwing into mainline

Canada's WestJet Group completes acquisition of Sunwing

WestJet Group has completed its acquisition of competing leisure carrier Sunwing Airlines (WG, Toronto Pearson) and associated tour operator Sunwing Vacations in what is punted to position the two Canadian leisure travel specialists for greater growth.

For now, the airlines will continue to operate independently but in future could be integrated into WestJet (WS, Calgary) or its budget subsidiary Swoop (WO, Hamilton, ON), according to media reports. Sunwing would become an instrumental driver for growth in the WestJet Group, the company said in a statement.

Initially announced in March 2022, the merger is a strategic pivot for WestJet to focus more on the leisure market and low-cost travel, WestJet Group Chief Executive Officer Alexis von Hoensbroech has told ch-aviation.

"As we have set out on our new strategic trajectory for the WestJet Group, investing further in leisure and sun flying across Canada is a critical driver for growth," he explained.

He said the merger added eighteen B737s, 2,000 employees, and Canada's largest vacation tour operator to...

Canada's WestJet may defer Delta JV renewal

Canada's WestJet (WS, Calgary) may defer refiling for regulatory approval for a cross-border joint venture with Delta Air Lines (DL, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson), WestJet Group Chief Executive Officer Alexis von Hoensbroech has told Airline Weekly.

“We are happy with what we are doing, and we haven’t decided to take any decision on potentially refiling [for] a joint venture,” he said in an interview. “We are happy with what we have and [will] take it from there.”

In October 2020, more than two years after they had applied for regulatory approval, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) tentatively granted antitrust immunity to the airlines' proposed cross-border joint venture but ordered them to exclude WestJet's budget subsidiary Swoop (WO, Hamilton, ON) and to give up eight slot pairs at New York La Guardia. A month later, the two airlines dropped the plans, saying the conditions imposed were "arbitrary", "capricious", "unreasonable", and "unacceptable". They said the loss of slots would deprive them of critical operating rights at one of the most...