WestJet airlines to buy Sunwing as travel market heats up
Posted Mar 2, 2022 12:00 pm.
Last Updated Mar 2, 2022 2:21 pm.
WestJet Airlines Ltd. is acquiring Sunwing Airlines Inc., sources say, as competition in the Canadian travel market heats up.
Crystal Hill, vice-president of CUPE 4070, the union that represents WestJet flight attendants, says executives informed her that the purchase announcement would be going ahead today. The acquisition was confirmed by another source.
Terms of the acquisition remain unclear, with a virtual town hall between management and employees planned today in Calgary, where WestJet is based.
Both airlines are privately held. Toronto-based Sunwing is controlled by the Hunter family and WestJet was purchased by Onex Corp. in 2019.
The acquisition would increase WestJet’s flight footprint to sun destinations and European cities after what has been a tough two years for the airline and travel industries.
WestJet was forced to cut 15 per cent of its flights through to the end of January as it navigated staffing shortages due to the Omicron variant.
The federal government last month lifted its advisory against international travel and several airlines are currently hiring.
Sunwing has been in the news recently after a flight on Dec. 30 to Cancun emerged showing passengers not wearing masks, singing and dancing in the aisle and on seats. This led to Federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra asking Transport Canada to investigate reports of the “unacceptable” behaviour.
