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Swoop Touches Down In Saint John

Saint John, NB, Canada / 97.3 The Wave
Brad Perry
May 13, 2022 | 11:04 AM
Swoop Touches Down In Saint John

A ribbon cutting ceremony took place at the Saint John Airport on May 12, 2022, to mark the inaugural Swoop flight. (Image: Brad Perry)



Celebration at the Saint John Airport (YSJ) on Thursday night to mark the arrival of ultra-low-cost carrier Swoop.

The inaugural flight from Toronto landed just before 8:30 p.m. and was greeted with a water cannon salute.

All 125 passengers on board were then welcomed by a delegation that included officials from the airport and the airline.

Sandy Ross, president and CEO of the Saint John Airport, said they are excited to welcome another airline to the Port City.

“These carriers are looking at Saint John. They know it’s a great market, they know the people here have a pent-up desire to be able to fly, so their coming here tells us they have confidence in this market and we have confidence in them,” said Ross.

Passenger volumes at the airport dropped to 36,000 last year as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted air travel.

But with three airlines now serving YSJ, and two more anticipated to return later this year, officials expect passenger numbers will gradually increase to pre-pandemic levels by 2025.

The inaugural Swoop flight at the Saint John Airport is greeted with a water cannon salute on May 12, 2022. (Image submitted)

Saint John Airport CEO Sandy Ross receives a replica airplane from Swoop’s commercial and finance head Bert van der Stege. (Image: Brad Perry)

Bert van der Stege, head of commercial and finance at Swoop, said they are excited to add Saint John to their list of destinations.

“We think this model, being an [ultra-low-cost carrier] and offering ultra-low fares, or as we like calling it ultra-not-expensive fares, it’s really going to stimulate demand and assist in the recovery of the tourism economy,” he said.

Saint John is the second New Brunswick destination for Swoop. The airline’s inaugural flight from Hamilton to Moncton landed on Monday.

Van der Stege said they hope to cater to a different segment of the market compared to traditional airlines.

“On the flight that I arrived on from Toronto, we had many first-time fliers and many people for the first time in their life were able to visit New Brunswick, visit Saint John,” he said.

Swoop will offer a twice-weekly service between YSJ and Toronto Pearson Airport on Sundays and Thursdays.

Beginning this summer, direct flights will be offered four times per week on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

“Provided the current Toronto route will do well, we will definitely be looking at expanding our portfolio,” said Van der Stege.