WestJet’s Swoop aims to make a splash with fares as low as $7.50

BNN Bloomberg

WestJet's new ultra low-cost carrier, Swoop , Courtesy of WestJet

Swoop, WestJet’s new no-frills carrier, is offering one-way flights as low as $7.50 as it bets on the ultra-low cost model.

Swoop is currently booking flights between Abbotsford, B.C., Edmonton, Halifax, Hamilton, Ont. and Winnipeg.

The low-cost carrier said Thursday it would be offering an introductory promotion of $0 fares - plus taxes and fees – each way for the first 2,000 seats it sells.

On Thursday, it was advertising one-way fares as low as $7.50 from Abbotsford to Edmonton and from Abbotsford to Hamilton. It also promoted one-way flight deals for $39, $69, and $99 for travel between June 20 and Dec. 13, 2018.

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The air carrier said it will launch six weekly flights between Abbotsford and Hamilton and between Hamilton and Halifax beginning June 20. Five days later, it will start six weekly flights between Hamilton and Edmonton and between Hamilton and Winnipeg.

“Keeping costs low so that the savings can be passed on to the travellers is what Swoop is all about,” said Bob Cummings, WestJet’s executive vice-president of strategy, in release. “These airports are on the exact same page as us and we have worked side by side to make today happen,”

In addition to cheap flights, Swoop is touting its in-flight Wi-Fi and entertainment system, seats with extra legroom, and modern air filters on board. The carrier also promises to announce “a ton of new routes and destinations” in the coming months.

The CEO of Flair Airlines, another Canadian low-cost carrier, told BNN he welcomes the competition.

“We believe that the introduction of competition is a win for Canadian travellers,” Jim Scott said in an email. “Flair is confident that it will continue to be the leader in price, customer experience, with the largest route network."

WestJet revealed the name of its low-cost carrier in September and announced its head office would be in Calgary.