Canadian LCC Swoop To Add 6 Boeing 737 MAXs To Its Fleet

The Canadian airline issued a statement on Wednesday saying it expects to receive the new 737 MAX 8s over the summer. This will increase Swoop’s fleet size by 60% and take the total up to 16 aircraft. Swoop presently operates an all-Boeing fleet of 10 737-800 Next Generation (NG) aircraft, so it makes sense for the airline to stick with the type when it comes to new acquisitions.

Focus on domestic routes

Along with new aircraft acquisitions, plans to add new routes and increase frequency on existing ones were also announced today. The focus has predominantly been on the Canadian domestic market in anticipation of growing passenger traffic in the upcoming summer travel season. Swoop’s Head of Commercial and Finance, Bert van der Stege commented,

“We saw demand for travel return in a very meaningful way over the holidays, signalling that Canadians are ready to reunite with family and friends. The acquisition of six new aircraft in response to anticipated demand will ensure Swoop reconnects more Canadians this summer while accelerating Canada’s economic recovery.”

One thing that is apparent from the routes the airline intends to fly is that Swoop is putting a lot of weight behind Newfoundland and Labrador’s “Come home 2022” campaign. It is introducing three new routes to the province starting in May. Bert van der Stege added,

“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.”

Nonetheless, there are several other interesting routes in the mix. The schedule is detailed below:

Route	Peak Weekly Frequency	Start Date	Total one- way fare (CAD) †	Base Fare (CAD)	Taxes and Fees (CAD)
Hamilton to Charlottetown	4x weekly	May 1, 2022	$49.00	$1.29	$47.71
Edmonton to Halifax	5x weekly	May 1, 2022	$179.00	$118.40	$60.60
Toronto to Charlottetown	3x weekly	May 2, 2022	$59.00	$5.14	$53.86
Hamilton to Moncton	4x weekly	May 9, 2022	$79.00	$27.84	$51.16
Toronto to Saint John	4x weekly	May 12, 2022	$59.00	$5.14	$53.86
Hamilton to Deer Lake	2x weekly	May 21, 2022	$59.00	$9.23	$49.77
Hamilton to St. John’s	5x weekly	June 13, 2022	$99.00	$45.54	$53.46
Winnipeg to Saskatoon	2x weekly	June 14, 2022	$59.00	$3.12	$55.88
Winnipeg to Regina	2x weekly	June 16, 2022	$59.00	$3.12	$55.88
Winnipeg to Ottawa	4x weekly	June 19, 2022	$65.00	$6.83	$58.17
Halifax to Ottawa	Daily	June 19, 2022	$60.00	$0.10	$59.90
Edmonton to Charlottetown	2x weekly	June 19, 2022	$179.00	$118.40	$60.60
Toronto to Deer Lake	2x weekly	June 20, 2022	$99.00	$40.54	$58.46
Toronto to Winnipeg	Daily	June 20, 2022	$69.00	$13.99	$55.01
Edmonton to Moncton	2x weekly	June 20, 2022	$179.00	$118.40	$60.60
Toronto to Regina	2x weekly	June 22, 2022	$59.00	$19.12	$39.88
Toronto to Saskatoon	2x weekly	June 22, 2022	$69.00	$25.64	$43.36

The Swoop story

Swoop started operations merely four years ago as a wholly-owned subsidiary of WestJet Airlines. The airline was famously named after WestJet’s desire to ‘swoop’ into the Canadian aviation scene with an exciting new business model. Unfortunately, however, there wasn’t much swooping as the pandemic, and the 737 MAX grounding meant the airline spent most of its time trying to stay afloat.

Despite the hardships over the last few years, Swoop has displayed incredible resilience and somehow managed to keep growing, albeit marginally. But the worst seems to be over for the Canadian startup as it can finally start thinking of expanding its magenta footprint this summer.

Summers have always been generous to the Canadian aviation industry, and thanks to LCCs like Swoop, travelers are further encouraged to fly. But the threat posed by this pandemic isn’t fully gone yet, and a lot can change between now and May, so it remains to be seen if Swoop’s ambitious plans are materialized.

Do you think the new routes and fares will help Swoop record its best summer yet? Please let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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