On May 1, 2023, it was announced that Sunwing Vacations and Sunwing Airlines (together, “Sunwing”) completed their sale to The WestJet Group (“WestJet”). The transaction, originally announced in March 2022, brings together two distinctly Canadian travel and tourism success stories to deliver new travel options and greater value for travellers in the rapidly expanding leisure and work-from-anywhere travel markets.
Following closing, initially the airlines will continue as independent operations, maintaining a sharp focus on providing an exceptional guest experience and ensuring safe operations. As the two entities transition from competitors to collaborators, the combination will be planned in a way that positions Sunwing as an instrumental pillar of the WestJet Group, and prioritizes the experience of a growing number of guests.
As previously announced, the WestJet Group's newly combined tour operator businesses, comprised of WestJet Vacations and Sunwing Vacations, will be headquartered in Toronto, Ontario and will continue to operate a Montreal office. In the coming years, the Vacations Business expects to facilitate new flying and new employment opportunities by retaining Sunwing's aircraft in Canada year-round, among other sources of anticipated growth.
Further information can be found on Canada Newswire’s website.
The largest integrated travel company in North America, Sunwing has more flights to the south than any other leisure carrier with convenient direct service from airports across Canada to popular sun destinations across the U.S.A., Caribbean, Mexico and Central America.
Launched in 1996 with three aircraft, 250 employees and five destinations, WestJet has grown to more than 180 aircraft, 14,000 employees and more than 110 destinations in 24 countries.