NONSTOP TO CANADA TO START IN FALL
Airline begins service between Edmonton, S.D. from Oct. to April
With leisure travel on the rebound as the pandemic eases, Canadian airline Swoop announced Wednesday that in October it will start flying nonstop between San Diego and Edmonton, a brand new destination for the county’s international airport.
Swoop, which describes itself as an ultra-low-cost carrier, will offer the new seasonal service between Oct. 31 and April 28, initially flying twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays. The frequency will increase to three times a week, starting Dec. 21, when the airline will add a flight on Tuesdays.
The announcement comes as the airline marks its third anniversary of flying this weekend. It has so far served 3 million travelers, Swoop said. It was established in 2018 as an independent subsidiary of the WestJet Group of Companies.
“Swoop is celebrating three years of bringing ultra-low fares to Canadians and we are
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thrilled to continue expanding on our success with the introduction of San Diego, Orlando (Sanford) and St. Pete-Clearwater to our network,” said Bert van der Stege, head of Commercial & Finance for Swoop. “We are pleased to be providing our travelers looking to explore the U.S. this winter with even more choice and affordable options.”
Roundtrip fares between San Diego and Edmonton currently start at $280, based on a review of the airline’s booking website. There are extra fees, however, for seat assignments and carry-on and checked baggage.
San Diego airport officials are always on the hunt for new international nonstop routes. The most notable nonstop destinations added over the last several years are London, Tokyo and Frankfurt. The pandemic forced a halt to those f lights, and so far, only Japan Airlines has resumed service.
“It’s great news that San
Diego International Airport will be getting a new carrier and a new international route in October,” said Kimberly Becker, CEO of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. “We were in talks with Swoop pre-pandemic and are happy they are still committed to providing nonstop service between Edmonton and San Diego. We anticipate this route will be popular for Canadians as they look to escape the snow and take in the Southern California sunshine.”
Swoop flies 189-seat Boeing 737-800 aircraft, which have 39 extra legroom seats that can be purchased when booking flights.
Often referred to as the “Gateway to the Canadian North,” Edmonton is the capital city of Alberta and is the northernmost city in North America with a population of 1 million. During the winter months, the aurora borealis is visible from Edmonton.