FILE – London International Airport on July, 19, 2017. Matthew Trevithick/980 CFPL
At this time of the year, London’s International Airport would have 40 scheduled commercial flights coming and going every day.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, though, that figure is down to as few as five a day, and even then, the planes are “virtually empty,” says airport CEO, Mike Seabrook.
“Our passenger traffic is about 10-15 per cent of what it normally is,” Seabrook said in an interview Friday with Global News Radio 980 CFPL’s Devon Peacock.
Like the rest of the travel industry, airports have been reeling from the pandemic as borders stay closed and planes remain grounded.
For London International, it’s a particularly hard pill to swallow.
The airport saw record-breaking passenger traffic in 2019, up 27 per cent from a record-breaking 2018,, and was planning on adding more routes this year.
“There’s just nobody travelling right now for good reason,” Seabrook says, “and for those who are, there’s been some repatriation flights and people returning home, but there’s very few people who are going anywhere any more.”
With travel restrictions in place and Canadians following government orders to self-isolate, airlines like Air Canada and WestJet have either suspended or cancelled their scheduled international flights and have drastically reduced domestic capacity.
Asked about the possibility the number of arriving and departing flights could hit zero in the near future, Seabrook said it could happen, but noted he was only speculating.
“With the airlines, it doesn’t make sense to operate an aircraft with so few people on it. And if nobody is travelling, I think that’s inevitable,” he said.
“You know, maybe if there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, and in two and three and four weeks there’s some return to something closer to normal, they may hang on there and then pick it up. It’s not easy to shut down an airline.”
On top of scaling back flights, both Air Canada and WestJet have also scaled back their workforces due to the pandemic.
Air Canada is temporarily laying off more than 5,100 of its flight attendants, and up to 600 of its more than 4,400 pilots will go on unpaid leave in the coming months, according to the head of the Air Canada Pilots Association, who says the precise number of positions that have been immediately affected remains unclear.STORY CONTINUES BELOW ADVERTISEMENT
Meanwhile, roughly half of WestJet’s 14,000 employees, some 6,900 people, are leaving the company, some temporarily, due to the pandemic, the airline says.
Its budget subsidiary Swoop, which also operates out of London’s airport, is not included in the figures, which also counts early retirements and both voluntary and involuntary layoffs.
With flights and passengers few and far between, the airport has been reduced to a skeleton crew of essential workers who come in to maintain and operate the facility as required, Seabrook said.
“There’s some regulatory things that we have to do in terms of maintaining it,” Seabrook says. “So we’ve sent every non-essential home… We still have medivacs, we still have some freight operations that that come and go.
“The airport will be always be open because there are requirements for for non-passenger services that come and go there.”
On the possibility of layoffs like those seen elsewhere in the travel industry, Seabrook says it really depends on how long the pandemic, and its economic fallout, lasts.
Estimates have pegged potential global passenger revenue losses this year of $252 billion, according to the Air Transport Association — a drop of 44 per cent from 2019.
“If you can imagine London’s problem worldwide… there’s airports like Toronto Pearson, Vancouver, Calgary, and Montreal, the four big ones in Canada, that have similar circumstances occurring. And the effects to them are significant.”“At this point, we’re just telling our staff [that] we’re hanging in there,” Seabrook said. “We’re in good shape, financially, as an airport, so that helps us during these tough times.”Air Canada lays off 5000 workers in light of COVID-19 pandemic
Asked if there was concern the pandemic could upend any positive momentum the airport’s seen in growth over the past few years, Seabook said he hoped there wouldn’t be, but noted that London has been a profitable route for the airlines, who, if they make it through this turbulence, “will have aircraft, and the aircraft have to fly, and they need markets to fly in.”
“There’s always that worry… But I mean, we’re hopeful. We’re a low cost airport… And with our catchment area, the number of people we have in here, and that approach we’ve taken, I think we’re in pretty good shape when this thing returns again.”
— with files from Christopher Reynolds of The Canadian Press
It’s been another record-setting year for London International Airport with more travellers than ever before taking off from the Forest City.
For a second straight year, the airport has seen a jump in the number of passengers passing through its front doors. The CEO of the airport, Mike Seabrook, says London could see just under 700,000 passengers this year, compared to 540,000 passengers last year. “That’s about a 25-per-cent increase. In the airport world, that’s significant.”
And Seabrook says the growth is sustainable.
“Two years ago, we had 530,000 passengers. In 2020, I think we could get over a million.”
A couple of years ago, London branded itself as “the easy and comfortable airport” and Seabrook believes London is being recognized for that.
“I think that we are getting recognized by travellers,” he said. “They like using the airport. They find it easy and comfortable to use … That’s our brand. We are delivering on it.”
London resident Shannon ??? has flown from the airport four times and said it’s “easy to use.”
“The parking is reasonable and close to the building,” she said. “There is easy access to the terminals after check-in. It’s great.”
WHAT’S BEHIND THE GROWTH?
Seabrook credits the steady growth at London airport to a number of factors, including the introduction this year of Canada’s ultra-low cost airline, Swoop.
Swoop began servicing flights from London in May, offering Southern Ontario residents direct travel to Abbotsford, Edmonton, and Halifax. Swoop will continue flights to Edmonton and Abbotsford this winter, with additional flights to Las Vegas, Orlando, and Cancun. And today, the company announced plans to launch daily, non-stop flights in April 2020 to Winnipeg, marking the seventh destination offered by Swoop from London International Airport.
“We are glad to see Swoop succeed in London and we hope passengers continue to take advantage of Swoop’s ultra-low cost fares,” said Seabrook.
The two other major carriers, West jet and Air Canada, also added new flights this year.
This winter, Seabrook says the airport is offering more southern destinations than ever before, including 13 flights a week to locations including Florida, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Mexico.
The increased traffic has meant the addition of several hundred new jobs at the airport and Seabrook says “the potential for many more” as growth continues. “From an economic point of view, the number of people that have been hired at this airport, in various capacities, has been remarkable. I see new people every day.”
Seabrook says cities like Toronto and Detroit continue to be the real catalyst for London’s growth.
Seabrook says Toronto’s airports grow each year by 3 million to 5 million passengers. In another 20 years, he expects that number to reach over 100 million passengers annually. “They can’t handle that capacity.”
Seabrook says Toronto is limited by runways and infrastructure, and that’s why he believes there is a bright future for London.
The London airport is also far more convenient for local travellers – and less expensive.
“It’s … much less expensive than travelling to Toronto and paying for high parking costs, the cost of getting there, the time, the effort,” he said.
“And in bad weather, it’s a lot easier and a lot simpler … If you can arrive home from a tropical destination and drive 20 minutes to home, it’s so much nicer than driving down the 401 in the winter at midnight. It’s a big blessing for us.”
ACCOMODATING GROWTH
Seabrook expects the airport will be close to, or surpass, a million passengers in 2020. He says the airport can accommodate those numbers but efforts are still underway to get ahead of the growth.
The airport is working on a “terminal precinct plan” that will take a broad look at the terminal and its processes to determine the most efficient way to expand. “We are trying to make sure we are prepared for this,” said Seabrook. “When you get jumps of 20, 30, 50 per cent a year, it’s hard to plan for, but we are managing and we’ll be fine for next year. And if we can get this plan in place, we hope to see an expansion of the terminal building.”
This past year, the airport spent $12 million in capital funds to expand one of the major taxiways and a complete a massive upgrade to the baggage screening area, among other things. Seabrook says investment’s like these are critical to the future growth of the airport. “You have to have your infrastructure in good shape or you can’t attract the services you need to grow.”
Seabrook says other carriers are watching. “Businesses attract business. New airlines attract new services and before we know it, London could be a 3-, 4-, or 5-million-a-year passenger airport with services to a wide array of destinations. It would be great if that could happen.”
Seabrook says he is proud of the progression. Ten years ago, many of the flights out of London went through Toronto. There were limited direct flight destinations. But things have changed.
And what’s good for the airport, is also good for the city.
“The better the air service is, the easier it is to attract business. It goes hand in hand for sure.”
Canadians can now fly direct toCancún and Orlando from London, Ontario
CALGARY, Oct. 24, 2019 /CNW/ – London, ON residents can escape the Canadian winter with the launch of Swoop’s two new routes heading south of the border. Swoop, Canada’s ultra-low-fare airline and subsidiary of WestJet Airlines Inc., will depart from London International Airport (YXU) to Cancún International Airport (CUN) on October 24 at 3 p.m. EDT, followed by the inaugural flight to Orlando International Airport (MCO) on October 26 at 3:50 p.m. EDT.
Orlando Skyline (CNW Group/Swoop)
These inaugural flights kick off Swoop’s London, ON winter schedule. Flights are available for booking now through to April 25, 2020. With twice-weekly service offered for both routes, Swoop travellers have more choices for their winter getaway.
“We know many Canadians love to head to sun destinations in the winter, which is why we aim to provide more opportunities for Canadians to travel south at a price-point that works for them,” said Steven Greenway, President, Swoop. “These additions to our network marks our fifth and sixth year-round and seasonal routes from London.”
As tourism hubs, both Cancún and Orlando offer experiences for visitors of all ages and walks of life, providing exciting options that suit Swoop travellers’ different travel styles. With affordable fares and an unbundled services model, Swoop is providing more Canadians with travel opportunities across North America.
“We’re thrilled to launch non-stop service to Cancún and Orlando from London with Swoop this week,” said Michael Seabrook, President and CEO, London International Airport. “The addition of these routes offers passengers more ultra-low-cost options for their winter escape this season from our easy and comfortable airport.”
Swoop’s twice-weekly service from London to Cancún departs on Thursdays and Saturdays, and from London to Orlando on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Details of Swoop’s service to Cancún and Orlando:
Service Between
Service Offered
Weekly Frequency
Total one-way price from
London, ON to Cancún, MX
Thursday, Saturday
2 x per week
$118.00† CAD
Cancún, MX to London, ON
Thursday, Saturday
2 x per week
$69.00† CAD
London, ON to Orlando, FL
Wednesday, Saturday
2 x per week
$79.00† CAD
Orlando, FL to London, ON
Wednesday, Saturday
2 x per week
$52.00† CAD
†Every day low fares valid through November 1, 2019 for travel between January 7 – February 12, 2020.
To learn more about Swoop’s destinations, schedule and ultra-low-cost model visit FlySwoop.com or connect with Swoop on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.
The ultra-low-cost carrier is continuing to make international travel more affordable for Canadians
CALGARY, Oct. 3, 2019 /CNW/ – Today, Swoop, Canada’s ultra-low-fare airline and subsidiary of WestJet Airlines Inc., celebrates its inaugural flight from London International Airport (YXU) to McCarran International Airport (LAS). The first Swoop flight to embark on this route departs from London at 8:30 PM EDT.
With flights now available for booking, travellers can enjoy all that Las Vegas has to offer with a twice weekly service on Thursday and Sundays.
“The addition of the London – Las Vegas route provides the opportunity for more Canadians to travel throughout North America at a price that works for them,” said Steven Greenway, President, Swoop. “We are excited to continue to expand our network as Canada’s preferred ultra-low fare airline. Our unbundled model helps keep fares low for all travellers because they get to customize their experience by choosing where they spend their money.”
This addition to Swoop’s network is the sixth route from London, with year-round and seasonal routes including Orlando, FL USA; Cancun, Mexico; Abbotsford; Edmonton; and, Halifax.
“We are very excited to add this new destination to our expanding route map,” says Michael Seabrook, President and CEO, London International Airport. “We are pleased that our passengers will now be able to enjoy non-stop service to Las Vegas the ‘Easy and Comfortable’ way from London International.”
Flights are now available for booking through to April 23, 2020.
Details of Swoop’s service to Las Vegas:
Service Between
Service Offered
Weekly Frequency
Total one-wayprice from
London, ON to Las Vegas, NV
Thursday,Sunday
2 x per week
$89.00† CAD
Las Vegas, NV to London, ON
Thursday,Sunday
2 x per week
$61.00† CAD
†Every day low fares valid through October 11, 2019 for travel between January 7-February 12, 2020.
To learn more about Swoop’s destinations, schedule and ultra-low-cost model visit FlySwoop.com or connect with Swoop on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.
TORONTO, Sept. 27, 2019 /CNW/ – Canadians looking for a tropical escape that’s easily accessible from their local airport have even more options to choose from this coming winter thanks to a new agreement between leading tour operator, Sunwing, and ultra-low-cost airline, Swoop.
Sunseekers departing from Hamilton, London, Abbotsford, Edmonton and Winnipeg can now book vacation packages with the tour operator that include a Swoop flight.
Cancun, Mexico Aerial Photo (CNW Group/Swoop)
Andrew Dawson, President of Tour Operations for Sunwing, commented on the news, “Saving our customers time and money by providing convenient, direct flight services from their local airport has always been a key priority for us. Sunwing Airlines already offers flights to over 45 of the most popular sun destinations from over 30 departure airports coast to coast. With this new agreement, even more Canadians will be able to experience our top-rated resorts (including leading chains such as Royalton Luxury Resorts, RIU Hotels & Resorts, Planet Hollywood Hotels & Resorts) as part of a valued-added vacation package departing from their local airport.”
All Sunwing vacation packages with Swoop flights include one complimentary item of checked luggage, round-trip airport to hotel transfers, assistance from Sunwing Experiences representatives throughout, the option to benefit from savings by pre-purchasing Sunwing Experiences excursions at the time of booking and more.
“It’s a privilege to be entrusted with carrying Sunwing travellers onboard Swoop flights to our extensive network in Mexico,” said Steven Greenway, President, Swoop. “Partnering with a well-respected tour operator who shares our vision of making travel affordable and more accessible is a welcome opportunity for Canadians who want to travel more.”
Sunwing customers that take advantage of Swoop’s extensive network of flight services can now benefit from even greater access to some of Mexico’s most popular vacation destinations. A new departure airport now available as part of this agreement is Abbotsford, where travellers can take advantage of twice-weekly flights to Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta. The popular vacation destination of Cancun is now within easy reach for Sunwing customers in London if they choose to take advantage of the twice-weekly Swoop flight service as part of their vacation package. Vacationers departing from Hamilton can now select from both Sunwing’s and Swoop’s regular flight services to Cancun – giving them the choice of four different departure days each week (including both Saturday and Sunday). Vacationers from Edmonton will enjoy additional weekend departure options to reach Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta. Finally, the addition of Swoop flight services from Winnipeg to Los Cabos has tripled the choice of departure days for customers travelling from the region, with new flights options departing Sundays and Wednesdays.
For more information on Sunwing packages or to book, visit www.sunwing.ca or contact your travel agent.
Canadian’s have always gotten the short end of the stick when it comes to cheap air fare, but that finally might be changing!
Swoop Airlines is a new discount airline that has launched in selected (smaller) airports throughout Canada, and they are offering some sweet ticket prices.
Living in Kelowna, I don’t have a lot of choices when it comes to direct flights. I’ll be honest, YLW airport sucks in its offering of non-stop destinations. When I first moved to Kelowna we at least had a direct to San Francisco and Los Angeles, but they slowly fizzled out and left us with just a few direct options.
However, Swoop Airlines just moved in and they are offering a few direct flights that caught my eye! Winnipeg for $79 and Las Vegas for $99. Those are some INCREDIBLY low prices for direct flights out of Kelowna.
My brother Cody lives in Winnipeg, but I can’t say I’m regularly tempted to fly over to visit him. (Sorry bro!) A one-way flight on WestJet or Air Canada is usually $250-$450 and all flights have at least one stop-over. The moment I saw I could get to Winnipeg for $79, I booked the flight instantly! $450 is a hard sell for me, but $79 I can do!
Now here is where people get concerned with a low-cost airline. They start to worry about the maintenance of the planes, how uncomfortable it might be in-flight, or how many extra fees will get tacked on for bags, water, or even breathing.
I’ve got you covered.Here is everything I experienced during my recent flight on Swoop from Kelowna to Winnipeg on September 18th 2019.
Swoop Airlines Review
Is Swoop’s website easy to use?
The site is super easy to use and very straight forward. It looks like any other major airline website and wasn’t sneaky or hard to understand in anyway.
They allow you to choose a seat (paid) add carry-on or checked baggage (paid) or you can hold off to do that at check-in or at the airport. Just know, if you buy baggage or seats DURING your initial booking, it will be cheaper. But more on that later.
Does Swoop have hidden fees in the fare pricing?
Surprisingly, no.
The price advertised was $79 and that’s what it was at the end of the day. The airfare was actually only $48, then after taxes and fees, came out to a total of $79. Great! No surprises there! I was half expecting it to double in price by the time I had just run through taxes, fees, and weird hidden surcharges – but thankfully that never happened.
Can you bring ANY type of luggage on Swoop for Free?
YES! They allow a free ‘personal item’ on board.
They classify this as something that can fit under the seat in front of you, like a small backpack, purse, laptop bag, or briefcase.
If you can pack a super smart bag, you could likely get away with just using this personal item allowance for a short trip.
Here are the official dimensions they allow for your personal item: 16” x 6” x 13” (41cm x 15cm x 33cm)
How much is CARRY-ON BAGGAGE with Swoop?
Now here is where you can start to rack up a bill with Swoop, but truth be told, it’s STILL cheaper than flying with Canada’s other two carriers, even if you buy all the add-ons.
Carry-on baggage starts at $35.
I was visiting my brother in Winnipeg on my way down south for the winter. Since I had to carry everything I needed for 6 months with me on this trip, I had no choice but to purchase BOTH the carry-on bag and the checked bag through Swoop. If I was just flying there for a weekend to see him, I could make it work with just the free personal item.
My carry-on bag from Kelowna to Winnipeg was $35 CAD.
Carry-on Baggage weight and size restrictions:
If you are considering buying a carry-on bag for a Swoop flight, know that it MUST fit within these dimensions: 21” x 9” x 15” (52cm x 23cm x 38cm).
But here is a fun tip – Swoop does NOT limit how much your carry-on bag can weigh.
Fees for carry-on bags on Swoop:
The cost for carry-on baggage will vary depending on two things:
If your flight is within Canada, or going to the states
If you purchase it at booking, or later on at check in or at the airport
You can buy a carry-on bag for as low as $35 as long as you do it at the time of booking.
Each moment that your flight draws closer it goes up in price. If 30 seconds after you book your flight you decide you want to buy a carry-on bag, it’s now $40. When you go to check-in for your flight 24 hours before departure, it’s now $45. If you wait until you reach the check-in counter at the airport, it’s now gone up to $50. The worst price is definitely if you wait until last minute until the gate, about to board your flight – here they will charge you a whopping $70 for your carry-on bag.
How much is CHECKED BAGGAGE with Swoop?
Checked baggage is around the same cost as carry-on baggage. It starts at $35.
Checked Baggage weight and size restrictions:
Your checked baggage with Swoop can weigh 50lbs MAX
Maximum dimensions: 157 cm (62 in.) total combined dimension (length + width + height)
You obviously get a bigger dimension allowance, but be warned, they are STRICT about their 50lb maximum weight policy.
As I was in line at the check-in counter I saw them make a girl who was only 2lbs over take items out of her luggage.
I was sweating with nerves because I knew my checked bag was shoved full of stuff for the next 6 months of travel. I don’t have a scale at home, so I crossed my fingers and prayed I would be okay.
When I put my bag up on the scale at the counter it weighed 55.3lbs. DANG!
She gave me two options: I could either find 5.3 lbs of stuff to take out of my checked bag OR I could pay the $106 overweight fee. There was NO way I was paying $106 for 5lbs, so I dug out 2 sweaters and my leather jacket and put them on over my t-shirt. Yep, I felt like Chandler from friends. I was still 1.5 lbs overweight, so I had to take out some items and shove them into my already brimming carry-on.
I put my checked luggage back on the scale and low and behold it came in at EXACTLY 50.0lbs. Success! The check-in attendant told me it’s better to buy a 2nd checked bag for $50 at time of booking instead of the $106 over-weight charge for next time.
Fees for Checked Bags on Swoop:
The cost for checked baggage will vary depending on two things:
If your flight is within Canada, or going to the states (states is $5 more)
If you purchase it at booking, or later on at check in or at the airport
Just like the carry-on baggage, the checked baggage is also on a sliding tier scale. You will get the lowest price ($35) for your checked bag at time of booking, and it will go up to $70 by the time you reach the gate.
How does Seat Selection work on Swoop?
FREE: You will be automatically assigned a random seat upon check-in. This random selection is free, so if you are budget conscious, just roll the dice.
PAY: To pick ANY seat on the plane ahead of time, even the worst one, it will cost you. Prices for seat selection at time of booking range from $10-$50, and if you wait until check in you will pay anywhere from $20-$70. (approx $10 more per seat if you wait.)
Since my TOTAL bill for a direct flight to Winnipeg was only $150, even after buying both a checked bag and a carry-on bag, I decided to really go all out and buy a seat in the emergency row. Of course, I waited until check-in so I could give Swoop some extra money.
The emergency row seat cost me $40 at check-in, 24 hours before the flight.The best part of buying this seat was that no one else on my flight decided it was worth the extra $40. I had the entire row to myself, including the row across the aisle. Most of the regular seats on the flight were full, which made it extra luxurious to have the entire area to myself.
Here is the pricing tier for seat selections on Swoop:
Are the seats really crowded on Swoop?
Swoop says their normal seats give 74-76 cm of leg room (that’s 29-30 inches).
If we compare that to other flights heading to Winnipeg, WestJet has one flight with 76 cm and one with 79 cm. Air Canada also ranges from 76 cm up to 81 cm depending on the type of aircraft.
So, if you’re on a Swoop flight with 76 cm in their ‘base’ seat, you might find the exact same leg room on certain WestJet and Air Canada flights also providing 76 cm. (Usually a Bombardier Dash-8).
If you fly a 737 or an a320 on WestJet or Air Canada, you’ll likely have 79 cm to 81cm, making them much roomier than Swoop.
Now, I did fly in the emergency row which gave me lots of extra room. Swoop’s website says their ‘extra-pitch’ seats give 86 cm to 96 cm of legroom(34-38 inches). While I didn’t whip out my measuring tape to see exactly what mine was, it felt extremely spacious.
By the way, seats have a USB plug and 110v plug, which makes any small seat a little more comfortable.
Does Swoop charge for water?
You bet! And I’m cool with that. I would rather score a ticket for $79 and have to pay for my own water than pay $450 for the same flight that offers free water or pop. In reality, we should all be bringing empty re-usable bottles through security and filling them up for free at the many water fountains.
Does Swoop serve food and drinks?
Yes they do, of course for a fee. The prices are pretty decent considering they are on a flight.
Drinks
Soft Drinks $1.99
Juice $2.49
Tea $2.99
Alkaline Water $3.29
Coffee $3.49
Spirits $5.99
Beer $6.99
Wine $7.99
Food/Snacks
Gummies $1.99
Biscotti $2.49
Brownies $2.99
Chocolate Bars $2.99
Pringles $2.99
Hummus and Lentil Crackers $4.49
Beef Jerky $4.49
Oatmeal $3.49
Mr. Noodles $3.49
Instant Pho $5.49
Snack Plate $6.99
You are allowed to bring your own water, pop, coffee and food on-board to consume if you don’t want to by airplane food. Most food you can bring through security but remember all drinks will have to be purchased post-security.
Is there Wi-Fi on Swoop?
YES!
There is Wi-Fi on Swoop flights, for a fee.
They don’t have the prices listed on their website and some forums say it’s based on the type/length of flight. Rates should be around $6.49/1 hour and $8.99/3 hours.
My Personal Swoop Experience
Everything was really equal to flying with any other Canadian airline. Booking, checking in, etc was all pretty similar. If anything, the below observations are because I am looking at Swoop with a very critical “I’m going to write a review about you” eye.
Here are the small differences I noticed flying with Swoop:
• They are hardcore about the 50-pound maximum for checked baggage. Don’t expect to get any leniency with Swoop.
• Post security, at the gate, they seemed a little behind schedule and disoriented. They called for families and anyone needing additional time/assistance to come up first and then held them there for a good 15 minutes without processing any of them through. The plane was there, and it was empty, so I am not sure what caused the delay.
• The flight did depart slightly late, but just a few minutes
•I guess it was a different experience to be nickeled and dimed with each tiny detail of the trip, but I still enjoyed a much lower fare than I would have with the full-service competitors.
• Service levels were not as hands on because the flight attendants don’t come through offering free drinks and pretzels to everyone. You really only see them for the safety demo and if you elect to buy something.
• Were the seats less padded? I couldn’t help but notice my butt didn’t feel as cushioned, but that might be me imagining things. Also, I am kind of a high maintenance flyer and I am usually doing everything I can to find a lay-flat business class seat, so I might just be extremely spoiled and biased. Sorry I have no data to confirm my suspicions on this one.
Once on board I didn’t notice anything different about the actual flight itself. The plane looked and felt like every other 737 I’ve ever been on. Sometimes I think people suspect flying with a budget airline means flying on a lower end plane, but they are really all the same metal tube in the sky. We took off and landed without any events, which is always a blessing. Once we touched down in Winnipeg the plane went right to the gangway and we departed within a few minutes. Baggage came quickly. The entire experience went well!
Where does Swoop Airlines Fly
Swoop is able to keep their prices super low by only flying out of secondary and smaller airports in Canada. The fees and taxes are lower, which helps keep ticket prices down.
However, they still fly to some major airports and top destinations!
International Swoop Destinations:
Las Vegas
Phoenix
Tampa
Orlando
Fort Lauderdale
Los Cabos
Mazatlan
Puerto Vallarta
Cancun
Montego Bay
Domestic Swoop Destinations:
Abbotsford
Kelowna
Edmonton
Winnipeg
London
Hamilton
Halifax
My Rating of Swoop Airlines
I would give my experience with Swoop an 8/10.(taking into consideration it’s a budget economy flight!)
I really didn’t have any kind of a negative experience at all, but of course the main reason for such a high score really boils down to price. I love a good deal, and when I can pair that with cutting my flight down from a 1-stop to a direct flight, even better!
Now that Swoop has a $99 flight from Kelowna direct to Las Vegas, I think that is a great way to get down to the US for cheap, even if Vegas isn’t my final destination. I’m looking forward to trying that service and seeing what it’s like.
Would I recommend Swoop?
I actually did today! My friends are looking to come and visit me in Mazatlan this winter and they can fly DIRECT from Abbotsford to Mazatlan for next to nothing. On WestJet their total cost for 2 round-trip tickets was going to be $1900 and with Swoop it will only be $800. 50% off!
13 September 2019 By Andrew Graham Reporter 980 CFPL
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds (431 Air Demonstration Squadron) will be one of more than a dozen performers taking to London’s skies this weekend.Merlyn Guilderson / File
London’s skies will be brimming with aircraft this weekend as Airshow London makes its annual return to the London International Airport.
More than a dozen world-class aircraft performances will take place as the aerial event celebrates its fourth year in the Forest City.
These include the world-renowned Canadian Forces Snowbirds, the CF-18 Demonstration Team and the Canadian Forces SkyHawks, as well as aerial acrobatics from London-based Red Bull Air Racer Pete McLeod.
Jim Graham, chair of Airshow London, says it’s no surprise the city is able to attract such a skilled array of performers.
“London’s got a great representation in the flight suit industry for looking after the crews so they start asking to come,” Graham said.
Graham says attendees will also have a chance to talk to pilots and meet a “whole range of personalities.”
“I’ve met guys that talk about stocks when you’re introduced to them … and I’ve seen guys that are right out there that make Maverick and Top Gun look like a figure skater,” Graham said.
“But they all have one common love of aviation.”
Families will also be pleased to learn Airshow London provides fun for all ages.
“All the crews that are parked on the ground want to talk to the kids. We’ve got a B-17 bomber of World War II vintage so grandpa is going to enjoy seeing that plane as well,” Graham said.
Londoners should also be aware that the airshow will result in a number of road closures surrounding London International Airport from Friday to Sunday this weekend, including:
Rebecca Road from Robin’s Hill Road to Evelyn Drive
Creamery Road at Dundas Street
Evelyn Drive from Rebecca Road to Nissouri Road
Robin’s Hill Road between Huron Street and Rebecca Road
Gates open at 4 p.m. for Airshow London’s Friday viewing, with performances kicking off an hour later.
Saturday and Sunday will have earlier openings at 9 a.m. with aerial shows launching at noon.
Sunwing returns to London International Airport for its 14th consecutive season with two new flight services for 2019 to Punta Cana and Cayo Santa Maria.
TORONTO, Aug. 06, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sunwing is bringing two of its most popular vacation destinations a little closer to its customers in the London area this coming winter. The travel company is returning to London International Airport for a 14th consecutive season and introducing weekly flight services to Cayo Santa Maria and Punta Cana. Sun-seekers can explore Punta Cana’s renowned white-sand shores with weekly flights from December 18, 2019 to April 1, 2020 or vacation in Cayo Santa Maria’s beautiful tropical landscapes from December 17, 2019 until April 7, 2020. In addition, travellers can look forward to returning weekly flights to Montego Bay and Varadero.
President of Tour Operations for Sunwing, Andrew Dawson, welcomed the news, “We’re delighted that our service is continually well-received by our customers in the London area and that they appreciate having convenient access to tropical destinations from their local airport. Thanks to their ongoing support we’ve been able to expand our services with flight offerings to two of our most popular destinations, Cayo Santa Maria and Punta Cana.”
“We are very excited that our passengers will have two new destinations to experience this winter with Sunwing” added Michael Seabrook, President and CEO of London International Airport. “Many of our sun-seekers are regular Sunwing travellers, and today’s announcement provides them with more destinations from the Easy and Comfortable Airport!”
Vacationers can choose from a wide selection of top-rated resorts in Punta Cana such as Royalton Bavaro Resort and Spa. This luxury resort property features upscale accommodations and amenities that the whole family will love including an on-site splash pad and FlowRider ® – the ultimate surf machine. Those looking for an adults only getaway can visit Riu Republica, a perennially popular resort that’s home to the Caribbean’s only water park exclusively for adults.
Travellers who choose to take advantage of the weekly flight service to Cayo Santa Maria, can stay at Sanctuary at Grand Memories Santa Maria, an adults only oasis nestled within Grand Memories Santa Maria. This resort-within-a-resort offers a tranquil atmosphere and spacious junior suites complete with an in-room liquor dispenser and attentive butler service.
Sun-seekers can also enjoy a host of benefits when they book their tropical getaway before September 6 for travel between December 18, 2019 and April 30, 2020. The tour operator is offering the ultimate package deal with complimentary Price Drop Guarantee with up to $600 cash back per couple*, reduced deposits of $50 per person, exclusive free perks on all new bookings to top-rated adult, top-rated family and top-rated luxury resorts with the best price guaranteed** and savings of up to 25% on select winter vacation packages.
All Sunwing vacation packages include return flights on Sunwing Airlines where passengers can sit back and relax while on board, with award-winning inflight service, complimentary non-alcoholic beverage service and buy on board selection of snacks and light meals including the brand-new Tex Mex Grilled Chicken Wrap inspired by Food Network Canada Celebrity Chef, Lynn Crawford. Passengers also benefit from a generous complimentary 23kg checked luggage allowance. For additional perks, including priority check-in and security line access***, customers can upgrade to Elite Plus from just $50 per sector.
* All claims are subject to a $50 per person admin fee; each passenger must register within seven days after booking to qualify for the Price Drop Guarantee promotion. ** An ongoing promotion where Sunwing will match a competitor’s published price which must be available at the time of booking. ***Available at select Canadian airports.
The airline is strengthening its position as a leader in holiday travel this winter with new Sun destinations in the South and Europe
MONTREAL, July 4, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ – Air Transat is pleased to present travellers in Ontario with its winter 2019-2020 program for Sun destinations in South and Central America, Mexico, Florida, the Caribbean and Europe. The addition of new Airbus A321neoLRs to its fleet next winter will allow the carrier greater flexibility to offer a broader choice of destinations to travellers. Named the 2019 World’s Best Leisure Airline by Skytrax, Air Transat will offer 36 destinations in the South and Europe from Toronto. The most scenic beaches in the South will be accessible to passengers flying out of Ottawa, London and Hamilton as well.
More flights to the most popular Sun destinations Toronto region beachgoers will be spoilt for choice between 25 favourite Sun destinations in 10 different countries. From London, Ontario, Air Transat will add a new direct flight to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. And from Hamilton, there will be a new direct flight to Santa Clara, Cuba, as well as a second weekly direct fight to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
Europe in winterFrom Toronto, along with its daily flight to London, United Kingdom, Air Transat will offer two direct flights a week all year long to Glasgow and Manchester, UK, respectively. Plus, the airline will extend to mid-January its flights to Barcelona, Spain, and Rome, Italy, with two direct flights a week to each city. Travellers will be able to fly to Portugalfrom Toronto, with two weekly direct flights to Lisbon, and one direct flight to Porto. It is also good to know that Air Transat is the only airline offering a direct flight from Toronto to Faro, in the Algarve, during the winter (one flight a week).
Discovering Canada and Europe with domestic and connecting flights Air Transat’s domestic flights, which link some major Canadian cities, will allow Ontarians to explore other regions in Canada as well as transatlantic destinations accessible via connecting flights. The airline will continue its daily flights between Toronto and Montreal, in addition to its five weekly direct flights between Toronto and Vancouver.
From Toronto: 36 South and Europe destinations
South
Number of flights (during peak season)
Caribbean
Montego Bay, Jamaica
4 direct flights a week
St. Maarten
1 direct flight a week
Cuba
Cayo Coco
4 direct flights a week
Cayo Largo
1 direct flight a week
Cayo Santa Maria
4 direct flights a week
Holguin
4 direct flights a week
Santiago de Cuba
1 direct flight a week
Varadero
6 direct flights a week
Dominican Republic
La Romana
1 direct flight a week
Puerto Plata
4 direct flights a week
Punta Cana
Daily direct flights
Samana
1 direct flight a week
Santo Domingo
1 direct flight a week
Mexico
Cancun-Riviera Maya
Daily direct flights
Cozumel
1 direct flight a week
Huatulco
1 direct flight a week
Puerto Vallarta
2 direct flights a week
South and Central America
Cartagena, Colombia
1 direct flight a week
Liberia, Costa Rica
2 direct flights a week
San Jose, Costa Rica
2 direct flights a week
Roatan, Honduras
2 direct flights a week
Rio Hato, Panama
2 direct flights a week
United States
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
5 direct flights a week
Orlando, Florida
3 direct flights a week
San Juan, Puerto Rico
1 direct flight a week
Europe
Number of flights (during peak season)
France
Paris
Daily flights via Montreal
Italy
Rome
2 direct flights a week (until mid-January)
Portugal
Faro
1 direct flight a week
Lisbon
2 direct flights a week and 2 flights a week via Montreal
Under a new “passenger bill of rights,” airlines will be able to leave passengers stuck on the tarmac for longer than the current standard.
An airplane taking off at Toronto’s Lester B. Pearson International Airport.
MONTREAL ― Canadian airports and airlines are some of the worst performers worldwide when it comes to flight delays, and new federal rules that allow passengers to be stuck on the tarmac for longer could make things worse.
All but one of Canada’s major airlines rank in the bottom half for on-time performance in a new survey from travel data provider OAG.
Canada’s best performer, WestJet, ranks 57th out of 125 airlines surveyed, with 77.1 per cent of all flights arriving on time. The country’s worst performer, Sunwing, ranks as the second-worst airline in the world, 124th out of 125, with only 57.8 per cent of flights on time.
Sunwing experienced numerous flight glitches in recent years, including major delays in Toronto and Montreal in April, 2018, that led to a fine from the Canadian Transportation Agency.
Looking at airports, Canada doesn’t fare much better. Our best airport, in Grande Prairie, Alta., ranks 108th out of 505 airports surveyed.
Toronto’s two commercial passenger airports, Pearson and Billy Bishop, rank as the two worst airports in Canada and among the worst in the world ― 475th and 489th, respectively.
Interestingly, there is a yawning east-west divide, with western Canadian airports performing better than others.
The survey comes as Canada is about to launch a new “passengers’ bill of rights” that some critics say will make it easier for airlines to delay flights.
Under the new regulations, airlines will be able to keep passengers stuck on the tarmac for up to three hours, plus an additional 45 minutes if the airline believes takeoff is imminent.
Currently, Canada has no government-enforced limits on tarmac delays, but airlines themselves had standards built into their tariffs. The industry standard was 90 minutes, which is also what a Senate committee recommended be the rule in the new passenger bill of rights. The government rejected that recommendation.
Airlines themselves have been pushing for longer tarmac delays. Air Canada extended its maximum tarmac time to four hours in 2018.
Additionally, it will be very difficult to get compensation from airlines in most cases where flights are delayed or passengers are denied boarding, said Gabor Lukacs, a prominent consumer advocate who has challenged airline practices in courts.
Watch: Here are the budget airlines in Canada. Story continues below.
Lukacs said he worries about the possibility of longer delays under the new rules because “when something becomes legal, they will do it. On the other hand, the counterargument is it’s in the airline’s best interest to get passengers to their destination as quickly as possible.”
Lukacs’ advocacy group, Air Passenger Rights, has accused the government of letting the airline industry dictate the new passengers’ bill of rights.
A spokesperson for Transport Minister Marc Garneau said the tarmac delay rule was decided “based on operational realities and international best practices. For example, in the United States, air carriers are required to offer the option to disembark after a three hour delay on domestic flights, and a four hour delay on international flights.”
While airlines frequently blame weather for flight delays, data from the U.S. federal government shows that extreme weather events are responsible for fewer than 5 per cent of flight delays in the U.S. The most common reason for delays was late-arriving aircraft, meaning flights delayed because earlier flights were delayed. This accounted for nearly 42 per cent of U.S. delays. Canada does not currently keep track of this type of data.
But Lukacs points out that Canada has much harsher weather than most of the U.S., so it may not be a fair comparison. And Toronto’s worst-in-the-country Billy Bishop Airport has unique issues to deal with because it’s on an island.
“This may be an apples to oranges comparison,” he told HuffPost Canada by phone.
Nonetheless, Canada’s poor weather doesn’t explain why Alaska Airlines has a higher on-time percentage than any Canadian airline (80.7 per cent) and is the third best among U.S. airlines.
Lukacs argues these on-time rankings are incomplete: There isn’t enough data to determine, for instance, whether it’s a particular airport or a particular airline that’s behind delays in a given place.
Either way, airlines should be taking bad weather into account when planning their schedules, Lukacs said.
“If airlines and airports ignore the weather realities, then you have guaranteed, built-in failure,” he said.
Air Canada lays off 5000 workers in light of COVID-19 pandemic
