CANADA: Swoop Airline Introduces Flights From Winnipeg To Five Destinations

Swoop, a low-fare airline that’s a subsidiary of WestJet, announced on Friday it will soon be offering direct flights from Winnipeg to five new destinations.

Increased connectivity has the potential to strengthen our economy and is good for our community. With Swoop adding more routes, it shows they are confident in Winnipeg as a place to grow their business, said president and CEO of Economic Development Winnipeg Dayna Spiring.

The airline said beginning this weekend it will offer the following new flights:

- A flight between Winnipeg and Orlando will be offered two times a week, on Tuesday and Friday, beginning on Nov. 15 until April 24, 2020;

- A flight between Winnipeg and Las Vegas will be offered twice a week, on Monday and Friday, beginning on Nov. 15 until April 24, 2020;

- A flight between Winnipeg and Fort Lauderdale will be offered twice a week, on Monday and Saturday, beginning Nov. 16 until April 25, 2020;

- A flight between Winnipeg and Tampa Bay will be offered twice a week, on Thursday and Sunday, beginning Nov. 17 until April 23, 2020; and

- A flight between Winnipeg and Los Cabos, beginning on Nov. 17, will be offered one time a week until Dec. 18 and then two times a week until April 23, 2020. The flights will be offered on Wednesday and Sunday.

Swoop is a Canadian ultra low-cost carrier (ULCC) owned by WestJet. It was officially announced on September 27, 2017, and began flights on June 20, 2018.

The airline is based in Calgary, Alberta and was named after WestJet's desire to "swoop"or jump into the Canadian market with a new business model.

Shortly after launch, WestJet announced that Swoop would not be based in Calgary, but in another nearby market like Edmonton, Abbotsford, Hamilton or Winnipeg.

On February 1, 2018, Swoop officially began selling tickets to the public, announcing John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport as their main hub and Edmonton International Airport as their western hub.

Swoop operates a fleet composed entirely of Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft, specifically the Boeing 737-800. Swoop plans to operate a fleet of six aircraft in 2018, scaling up to 10 aircraft by spring 2019.

Swoop's current fleet is equipped with Recaro BL3520 leather seats and pink antimacassars over the headrests. Each seat includes a tray-table, seat pocket, an adjustable headrest, and movable armrests.

Swoop focuses on point-to-point flying, not offering connections. In terms of destinations, Swoop's biggest hub is John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport, offering service to almost all destinations.

Swoop's western base is Edmonton International Airport. Some destinations, such as Sangster International Airport are served seasonally.

Swoop has an agreement with travel company Sunwing that allows passengers out of Hamilton, London, Abbotsford, Winnipeg and Edmonton to book Sunwing vacation packages with Swoop flights.

Winnipeggers can now book their flights through to April. More information is available on the Swoop website.

JAMAICA:Liquid Cocaine Allegedly Found In Passegers Luggage

The police have charged four of the five Canadian women who were last Wednesday arrested after liquid cocaine was allegedly found in their luggage at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay.

Police reports are that about 7:15 pm last Wednesday, the five females checked in to board an outgoing flight destined to Canada when their belongings were searched and 14 bottles of liquid cocaine found.

Four of the women were charged with possession of cocaine, dealing in cocaine and taking steps preparatory to export cocaine and are to appear in the St James Parish Court on Wednesday.

They have been identified as Karen Roberto, Jacques Moukoury, Kelly Barradas and, Mariah Holland. The fifth woman was released after police conducted interviews.

JAMAICA: Tourism Minister Says Sector Continues To Be Engine of Growth

Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, says tourism continues to be the engine of growth for the economy, and that locals have a responsibility to ensure the sector remains competitive and visitor friendly.

Addressing the Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) Tourism Trade Show at the Montego Bay Convention Centre on September 20, Dr. McNeill said the sector has not only been demonstrating a high level of profitability and dependability, but can now be safely called “the proverbial goose that keeps laying the golden egg.”

“The sector has the capacity to improve the quality of life of our people, which is the prime responsibility of our Government. We must ensure that the benefits of the sector have a positive impact, not only on those who live in the resort areas, but throughout every nook and cranny of Jamaica,” he said.

JAPEX, an annual event, is hosted by the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) and the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB). It offers the ideal forum for leading suppliers of the country’s tourism product to meet with travel wholesalers and tour operators in a professionally-organised business exchange.

Noting that the country’s greatest asset is its people, Dr. McNeill said it is not by coincidence that many visitors to Jamaica not only keep coming back, but have also formed lifelong bonds and friendships with locals.

“Last winter we had the distinction of having the Sangster International Airport (in Montego Bay) bursting at the seams. As a result, we had to make special arrangements to ensure that the inflow of visitors had a positive airport experience,” the Minister noted.

Dr. McNeill said the demand for Jamaica was higher than ever and consequently “we suffered a shortfall in rooms.” He added that preparations are well advanced for what is expected to be another bumper winter tourist season, with the country expecting to be on par with last season’s record breaking numbers.

“We broke the two million stop-over arrivals barrier for the first time and we have seen increases in cruise arrivals from all our major ports,” he noted.

“Growth has returned to our main markets of the UK and USA, and we are opening up new markets every year. We already have flights from Nordic countries, such as Norway and Sweden and next year we will see the first direct flight from Dublin, Ireland to Montego Bay,” the Minister added.