Canadian budget airline Swoop announces 7 US routes

Upstart Canadian "ultra-low-cost carrier" Swoop is making its first push into the United States, revealing plans Thursday to fly seven routes from five U.S. airports.  The airline’s first U.S. flights start Oct. 11, when Swoop launches non-stop service between Las Vegas and Edmonton. The carrier will add six more U.S.-Canada routes by the end of October. In addition to Las Vegas, Swoop’s new U.S. destinations will include Fort Lauderdale; Orlando; Phoenix/Mesa, Arizona; and Tampa. Swoop says it will become the first ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) to start service to the U.S. Steven Greenway, Swoop's president, points to the growth of U.S. discounters as proof that the American market is ready for an airline like Swoop. “Swoop's success in the Canadian ULCC space combined with the evident success of ULCCs in the U.S. affirms that North American travelers are ready for an airline to open up the border to ultra-low-cost air travel,” Greenway says in a statement.