Swoop (Hamilton, ON) has had to defer the launch of flights to the United States after failing to secure US government approval in time.
The low-cost unit of WestJet (WS, Calgary) had applied to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for exemption authority and a foreign air carrier permit back in June this year. At the time, it had assumed the four-month period between the lodging of the application and its proposed launch of flights - October 11 - would prove sufficient.
However, following the passing of October 11, and with the DOT yet to grant it exemption authority, Swoop has now had to cancel various planned services as it continues to await Washington's response.
"We anticipated having all regulatory approvals in place well in advance of our US launch, but unfortunately, this is not the case," Swoop said. "We know how disruptive it is when travel doesn’t go as planned, and are deeply sorry for the inconvenience and disappointment this has caused."
Among the routes that were to have launched include Abbotsford-Las Vegas Harry Reid, and Hamilton, ON to each of Orlando International, Tampa International, Fort Lauderdale International, and Las Vegas.
However, to offset the growing number of affected passengers, Swoop said it would wet-lease an aircraft from WestJet to carry out its Edmonton-Las Vegas route, set to launch on October 26.
An airline spokesman has since told CBC that Swoop hopes to receive the US government's consent by October 27 following which flights south of the border will start. Until that time, affected passengers have been refunded their respective monies.
