Swoop adds non-stop flights to Las Vegas and Newfoundland from Hamilton airport
Vacationing just became a little easier for Hamiltonians.
Swoop, an ultra-low-fare Canadian airline, announced last week it would add several new United States destinations, including a non-stop flight from John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport to Las Vegas, Nevada, starting in June.
In a Feb. 15 release, Swoop also said it would extend current seasonal services, including flights from Hamilton to St. Pete-Clearwater and Orlando (Sandford) in Florida, into the summer.
Two new domestic destinations in Newfoundland and Labrador - Deer Lake, near popular Gros Morne National Park, and the capital of St. John's - were also announced earlier this month for the summer season.
The news comes as restrictions loosen and Canadians, who have been more-or-less housebound since March 2020, appear eager to travel.
In a new report, Hamilton's international airport says there are signs of recovery" after two dismal years for passenger air travel.
The report, set to be presented to the city's airport subcommittee on Thursday, shows a significant drop in air travel to and from Hamilton since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, just 250,019 passengers flew to and from the city's international airport - down 66 per cent from 955,373 in 2019. In 2020, the number was slightly higher at 329,193 travellers.
Hamilton airport's numbers had grown by 32 per cent from 2018 to 2019.
Despite low numbers, the airport said there was an encouraging comeback" in summer 2021 before Omicron hit, and is optimistic" for a better 2022.
International flights in Hamilton resumed Nov. 30. Easing restrictions are sparking optimism and an upsurge in passenger confidence," the report reads.
Earlier this month, Swoop also announced two new routes - Moncton, N.B., and Charlottetown, P.E.I. - for the summer travel season in an effort to incentivize summer travelers. But a surge of travel may begin even sooner.
Shawna Curtin Weatherill of Expedia Cruises in Waterdown said the travel agency is making daily bookings since the province announced the PCR testing requirement would be lifted for fully vaccinated travellers on Feb. 28.
We received phone calls with people that had delayed March break that were suddenly, like, We need to go away for March break," she said. Birthday celebrations, retirement cruises, honeymoons, all of those were then booked."
She said it will take years for their business to recover after two devastating" pandemic years. Curtin Weatherill is encouraging Hamiltonians to book vacations using a local travel agent.
Help us recover," she said.
Kate McCullough is an education reporter at The Spectator. kmccullough@thespec.com