Swoop (Hamilton, ON) has taken delivery of its first aircraft, B737-800 C-GDMP (msn 60131). The Boeing twinjet is one of three the WestJet unit will deploy into service once all certification requirements have been completed, expected shortly.

As such, Swoop's inaugural service has been provisionally scheduled for June 20.

WestJet CEO Ed Sims said during a recent earnings call that Swoop would launch with two B737-800s with a third due in July. Thereafter, six are expected to be operational by early 4Q18 followed by a full complement of 10 aircraft by 3Q19.

"The aircraft we are transferring to Swoop were all identified as excess capacity in our WestJet mainline business that would otherwise have been returned to their respective lessors," he said.

Swoop will initially connect Abbotsford, Hamilton, ON, Halifax, Edmonton International, and Winnipeg International with plans to roll out international flights later in the year.

According to Sims, early bookings flights have been "strong".