Edmonton International Airport welcomes Swoop Airlines’ new services Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Phoenix-Mesa

Edmonton International Airport welcomes Swoop Airlines’ new services Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Phoenix-Mesa

Swoop helping enable warm weather flights from EIA

Edmonton, AB, 2020-Oct-29 — /Travel PR News/ — Swoop’s first flight from Toronto to Edmonton International Airport was celebrated Sunday afternoon with a fun sports jersey exchange between Myron Keehn from EIA (left) and Bert van der Stege (right) from Swoop.

Dreams about a warm weather vacation this winter can still be a reality through Edmonton International Airport.

Three non-stop destinations will be available each week, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Phoenix-Mesa with Swoop Airlines. Flights to sun destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean are exempt from current health restrictions that prevent international flights from landing in Edmonton. These flights will be non-stop both to and from EIA.

The Environment Canada seasonal forecast for Alberta, as well as the 2020-21 Farmers’ Almanac forecast both call for Alberta to have a colder than normal winter with heavy snowfalls forecast. From October 2019 to the end of February 2020, Edmonton International Airport (EIA) recorded 246,216 international destination passengers, many of those bound for sunny destinations.

“We’ve clearly heard from sun seekers that they’re looking for options this winter. Thanks to Swoop and our airline partners we’re able to help meet that demand. Safety and security is our top priority and we’re confident EIA is ready for these flights in close partnership with the airlines and health authorities. These flights will make it possible for local travellers, including snowbirds, to still get their traditional winter break.”

Myron Keehn, vice-president Air Service and Business Development, EIA 

“We are pleased to be expanding our service at the Edmonton International Airport. With the stringent health and safety measures we have put in place on every Swoop flight, travellers can be assured that now is the time to responsibly travel while remaining true to their budget.”

Bert van der Stege, Head of Commercial and Finance, Swoop  

Sun destinations 

Warm weather destinations include: 

  • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico weekly starting Oct. 31
  • Mazatlan, Mexico weekly starting Oct. 31
  • Phoenix-Mesa, Arizona weekly started Oct. 25
  • Swoop has also started non-stop service to Toronto from EIA, five times a week as of October 25 and continues to offer flights to Hamilton and Abbotsford, B.C.  Health and safety first

EIA, and Swoop all have extensive programs in place to help ensure the airport and flights are as safe and healthy as possible. Edmonton International Airport’s Ready program focuses on extensive cleaning measures inside the airport as well as the adoption of touchless technology at key points and public reminders about proper safety precautions.

Swoop has implemented a robust set of measures for a safe and healthy travel and work environment for its travellers and crew. This includes stricter boarding processes allowing for shorter queue wait times, traveller screening measures, increased sanitization, and enforcing face masks to be worn for the duration of the flight.

As of October 15, all round-trip Swoop air travel and Getaways bookings with service to the U.S., Mexico and Jamaica, also include new partner, TuGo®’s COVID-19 Insurance coverage, at no additional charge.   With this coverage, travellers are covered up to $100,000 CAD for emergency medical and quarantine related COVID-19 expenses, in the event they tested positive or are diagnosed for COVID-19 during the trip. It also offers trip interruption coverage if the Canadian Government’s travel advisory changes to “Avoid all travel” (level 4) while away.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the risk of contracting COVID-19 during a flight is considered very low risk. Since the start of 2020 there have been 44 cases of COVID-19 reported in which transmission is thought to have been associated with a flight journey (inclusive of confirmed, probable and potential cases). Over the same period some 1.2 billion passengers have traveled. That translates to one case per 27 million passengers.

Some factors contributing to that include: 

  • The downward flow of aircraft airflow systems combined with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters,
  • the natural barrier of the seatback,
  • high rates of air exchange;
  • and the addition of mask-wearing adds a further and significant extra layer of protection, which makes being seated in close proximity in an aircraft cabin safer than most other indoor environments.

To learn more about all current flights available and the EIA Ready program, please visit www.flyeia.com/ready.

Media Contact:  

Darrell Winwood
Digital and Corporate Communications
587-338-4454
dwinwood@flyeia.com

Kelly Steward
Swoop
403-714-3688
Kelly.steward@flyswoop.com

Source: Edmonton International Airport

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