Sunwing Airlines will become a name of the past, with WestJet confirming it will integrate the 18-aircraft fleet into its 130-plane, all-Boeing fleet. The process is expected to take two years, with the goal of streamlining operations.
Canadian Press was first to report the story, based on a memo sent out last week by Sunwing president Len Corrado.
"While we can confirm the eventual integration of Sunwing Airlines into WestJet, the anticipated timeline to do so has not been determined at this time," said WestJet spokesperson Julia Kaiser, in an email to CBC News.
"Our immediate focus remains on the integration of Swoop's highly successful business model across WestJet's operations," Kaiser continued.
"WestJet will eventually move to a one jet aircraft operating certificate (AOC) model and Sunwing Airlines will be integrated into WestJet," Corrado said in the June 14 memo.
"The WestJet Group remains committed to growing sun flying in the East alongside expansion plans in Western Canada, and this strategy will only be strengthened as we ultimately transition to a one jet AOC," Corrado wrote.
In the statement to CBC, Kaiser confirmed that Sunwing Vacations will continue to operate as part of the WestJet Group and will not be impacted by the airline integration.
It's a time of change in the increasingly competitive Canadian aviation industry. WestJet announced on June 9 it would merge its low-cost subsidiary Swoop with its main business by late October. That news came five years after Swoop debuted in response to the launch of discount rival Flair Airlines in 2017.
It also came after pilots with WestJet and Swoop ratified a new collective agreement that gave them a 24% pay hike over four years.
In March, the federal government approved WestJet's takeover of Sunwing Vacations and Sunwing Airlines.
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