WestJet鈥檚 lower-cost airline Swoop is expected to announce that it will expand its summer service offerings, including adding flights from Victoria to 颅Edmonton and Toronto.
The airline, which previously announced it was postponing planned operations to Victoria in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, will add as many as six flights a week between Victoria and Toronto and seven flights a week between Victoria and Edmonton.
Swoop will also announce expanded services for Kelowna and Abbotsford.
鈥淥ur summer schedule 颅expansion is in response to strong advance sales and in anticipation of demand from Canada鈥檚 most price-conscious travellers as they look towards the accelerated pace of 颅vaccine rollouts across the country,鈥� said Swoop president Charles 颅Duncan. 鈥淲hen the time comes for a safe resumption of travel, it will be critical to ensure access to affordable travel exists within our 颅borders and Swoop is strategically 颅positioned to meet that need in 颅British Columbia and across the 颅country.鈥�
Paul Nursey, chief executive of Destination Greater 颅Victoria, said reliable transportation to and from the Island is vital to the success of the visitor 颅economy.
鈥淭here are other benefits to a low-cost carrier like Swoop entering market as well. It means Greater Victoria becomes an option for visitors that might not have considered air travel without ultra-low cost carrier options,鈥� he said.
Nursey noted lower-cost 颅carriers 鈥渃an really move the market鈥� and will mean strong competition for the 颅existing Victoria-to-Toronto 颅service.
