WestJet has officially completed its integration of Sunwing Airlines, marking the latest change in Canada’s aviation landscape. This caps off a two-year journey which will see Sunwing aircraft move under the WestJet Air Operators Certificate (AOC) as of May 29, 2025.
This is the second integration for WestJet in as many years after the carrier folded Swoop into its mainline operation in 2024. WestJet announced that it would acquire Sunwing in 2023. With the addition of the 16 former Swoop aircraft, 18 Sunwing aircraft, and 9 aircraft acquired from the now-defunct Lynx Air, WestJet has 150 Boeing 737s flying under a single AOC.
Alexis von Hoensbroech, Chief Executive Officer of the WestJet Group, said this about the integration:
“Completing two airline consolidations in just two years—the first with Swoop in 2024 and now Sunwing—was complex and required coordination across every aspect of our business, from operational, labour, and regulatory areas to experiential and cultural elements. Achieving this milestone is proof of the incredible way our unified team works together and is a clear win for WestJet and our guests; it’s also a story of transformation in Canadian aviation. A huge thanks to everyone who contributed!”
As part of the integration, WestJet will reconfigure these new aircraft to the standard WestJet product offerings; Premium, Economy, Extended Comfort, and UltraBasic seating. This process is expected to take through the end of 2025.
While the airline may be gone, Sunwing Vacations will live on and continue to provide travel packages to Canadian’s looking to escape the cold and snow during the winter. Sunwing is one of the largest vacation companies in Canada and has great brand recognition north of the border.
This integration was completed weeks after Delta Air Lines and Korean Air announced plans to take a 25% stake in the company. The two airlines purchased the shares from WestJet’s majority stakeholder, Onex Partners.
With the arrival of the final Sunwing flight on May 28, 2025, it marks the end of a twenty year run for the low-cost carrier (LCC). The airline was founded in 2005.
Summary
Two years after purchasing the airline, WestJet has completed its acquisition of low-cost carrier Sunwing. With the integration of Sunwing, Swoop, and recently acquired Lynx Air aircraft, the carrier’s Boeing 737 fleet now stands at 150. Throughout the remainder of 2025, these aircraft will be retrofitted into the standard WestJet seating options.
