WestJet has bought Sunwing and will expand its vacation destination offerings. “The transaction will bring 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,” WestJet said in news release. A new division that includes Sunwing and WestJet Vacations will be formed and led by Sunwing CEO Stephen Hunter.
The new company will be headquartered in Toronto and Sunwing and WestJet Vacations will continue to carry on business under those names. A Sunwing office will be maintained in Laval, Quebec and WestJet will keep its head office in Calgary. This combination brings together Canada’s two original low-cost carriers and positions us to accelerate growth in value-oriented travel, already the fastest growing segment of the airline market. It creates new opportunities for our people, our operational partners and supports the recovery from a global pandemic that has been particularly challenging for the Canadian travel and tourism industry including local airports and businesses we work closely with,” said WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech.