Canadian ultra-low-cost carrier Swoop announces big US expansion
The hottest place for Canadian ultra-low-cost carriers is apparently south of the border — in the United States.
Swoop on Tuesday announced a major expansion of its U.S. network, going up against rival Flair Airlines in many of the same markets.
Swoop, which is owned by WestJet, will go head-to-head with Flair at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Chicago's O'Hare Airport (ORD), operating service from both airports to Toronto's Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ).
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Swoop's service to Chicago will operate five days a week and begin on May 30. Its service to New York will also operate five days a week and begin on June 20.
Swoop is also adding Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Nashville International Airport (BNA) to its U.S. map. Burbank flights will operate to Edmonton (YEG) three days a week starting June 23, with San Francisco flights operating to Edmonton four days a week starting June 6. Nashville flights will operate five days a week to Toronto starting May 26 and twice weekly to Edmonton starting June 19.
Flair currently serves Burbank from Edmonton and Vancouver (YVR), and will launch service to San Francisco and Nashville in April, according to Cirium schedules data. San Francisco will be served from Edmonton, with Vancouver flights launching in May, while Nashville will be served from Toronto and Edmonton.
Swoop is also adding a new route from Las Vegas (LAS), with service to Toronto (YYZ) launching on May 20, operating four times a week. Swoop currently serves Hamilton (YHM) from Las Vegas. That airport is located about 40 miles southwest of Pearson Airport.
Introductory fares for Swoop's new U.S. routes are $78 USD each way.
More: Canada’s Flair Airlines adds 2 major US destinations
In addition to Las Vegas, Swoop currently serves San Diego (SAN), Palm Springs (PSP), St. Pete-Clearwater (PIE), Orlando Sanford (SFB) and Phoenix-Mesa (AZA) from airports across Canada. It launched its first U.S. flights in October 2018. Swoop operates a fleet of 10 Boeing 737-800 aircraft, and just announced it will be adding six Boeing 737 MAX 8s to its fleet this summer.
In addition to Swoop and Flair, the Canadian ULCC market will soon see two new entrants, as pent-up demand during the COVID-19 pandemic creates a leisure travel market in Canada that is ripe for growth. Upstart Lynx Air and Canada Jetlines both plan to commence service this year.
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Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
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- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
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- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
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- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
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| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
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Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles50,000 Bonus MilesAnnual Fee
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Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees