Canadian low-cost carrier Swoop will finally be operating at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). The airline will start operations on October 25th, 2020, with plans to capture some of the rebounding international and domestic travel.
Swoop is coming to YYZ
Swoop has left Toronto-Pearson out of its route network for some time. Now, the airline has announced plans to start up operations in Canada’s largest market. According to a press release seen by Simple Flying, Charles Duncan, the airline’s president, stated the following:
“Travel is beginning to rebound, and we want to help encourage Canadians to reconnect with family and friends or plan that long-awaited vacation. With the robust health and safety measures we have put in place on each of our flights, travellers in Toronto will now have more affordable air travel options than ever before.”
The airline believes it can service price-sensitive travelers while stimulating demand to and from Toronto thanks to its low fares.
Where will Swoop fly?
Swoop will release its schedule of destinations in and out of Toronto Pearson in September with the release of its winter schedule. However, the airline did tease that it will operate a “mix” of international and domestic routes.
Swoop will likely launch flights from Toronto to its existing stations where it has some brand recognition. Examples include Abbotsford, Kamloops, Moncton, and others. The airline could also wade into territory on more popular routes from Toronto, such as to Winnipeg or Edmonton.
Internationally, Swoop only flies to the US, Mexico, and some Caribbean destinations. Major destinations where Swoop is likely to add flights include Las Vegas, Orlando, Tampa, and Fort Lauderdale. To Mexico and the Caribbean, destinations like Montego Bay, Mazatlan, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, and Los Cabos could be ideal for seasonal winter operations for Canadians looking to head to the beach. Many of these destinations were part of Swoop’s planned 2020 expansion, which has been delayed or altered. Other Swoop options could be to expand its current base of international destinations to new Caribbean cities.
Many of those routes thus far are currently suspended amid the ongoing crisis. Earlier this year, Swoop was operating a rather unique “Swoop Sprint” flight from Abbotsford to Halifax with stops in Edmonton and Hamilton.
Swoop operates on an ultra-low-cost-carrier model (ULCC). The airline does not offer any connections and only nonstop flights. Depending on your travel needs, you can add on frills like pre-assigned seats, baggage, and free changes.
While its parent company, WestJet, does operate some of these routes out of Toronto, it targets an entirely different breed of travelers. WestJet is more premium and can leverage some connections out of Toronto. Swoop will target only origin and destination (O&D) demand using its Boeing 737-800 jets.
Why didn’t Swoop operate out of Toronto-Pearson thus far?
One of Swoop’s largest operating base is out of John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport (YHM). This is a secondary airport that is located south of Toronto in Hamilton, Ontario. The airport is about 52 miles (or 84 kilometers) from downtown Toronto, making it slightly inconvenient for some travelers, but perfect for those on the south side of Toronto in Hamilton, tourists looking to be a little closer to Niagara Falls, or those in Mississauga looking for a low-fare getaway.
Even with the announcement of new Toronto routes, Swoop has stated it will continue to serve Hamilton. Hamilton remains one of the most important operating bases for the airline.
Plus, Toronto-Pearson is an expensive airport to operate out of. Most ULCCs target secondary airports away from these big, costly international hubs to achieve cost savings conducive for lower fares. However, with passenger demand low, Swoop is targeting passengers wherever they may be. And, for a lot of people in Toronto itself, YYZ is much more convenient than YHM.
Are you looking forward to Swoop operating at Toronto Pearson? Let us know in the comments!
