WestJet brands new ULCC subsidiary Swoop

Canadian low-cost carrier WestJet will call its planned ultra low-cost offshoot Swoop, and it will base the unit in Calgary, WestJet announced Wednesday. The company has also revealed the unit's website address -- www.flyswoop.com -- and details about the logo and paint scheme on Swoop aircraft. The aircraft will have the name Swoop painted in large magenta letters over a white fuselage, with a magenta and white tail, according to materials supplied by WestJet. The airline says that the name Swoop reflects the plan to "swoop in to the Canadian market with a new business model that will provide lower fares and greater opportunity for more Canadians to travel". WestJet, which is based in Calgary, will also headquarter Swoop in Calgary to enable Swoop to share infrastructure and services with the parent company. Swoop will be able to hire employees that work for WestJet, it says. WestJet intends to begin selling seats on Swoop in early 2018, and it has targeted a mid-2018 launch, it has said. <br/>