Editing WestJet (section)

==Acquisition of Sunwing==
On March 2, 2022, the WestJet Group announced its intent to acquire the Canadian low-cost airline [[Sunwing]]. Both WestJet and Sunwing reported that they had reached a mutual, definitive agreement for the merger. Following the close of the transaction, the two airlines would create a new "tour business operating unit" which would be led by current Sunwing CEO Stephen Hunter, which would bind the two airlines' vacation units - Sunwing Vacations and WestJet Vacations - together. The "tour business operating unit" would be based out of Sunwing's head office in [[Toronto]], while the operations of Sunwing Airlines would be transitioned and managed at WestJet's head office in [[Calgary]]. The acquisition announcement was made shortly after WestJet's new CEO Alexis Von Hoensbroech assumed the role. Shortly after, the Canadian [[Competition Bureau]] was asked to review this intent.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://westjet.mediaroom.com/2022-03-02-WESTJET-GROUP-TO-ACQUIRE-SUNWING-VACATIONS-AND-SUNWING-AIRLINES,-DELIVERING-GREATER-VALUE-AND-MORE-SUN-DESTINATIONS-FOR-CANADIANS | title=WestJet Group to acquire Sunwing Vacations and Sunwing Airlines}}</ref>

On October 26, 2022, the Canadian Competition Bureau sent a letter to [[Transport Canada]] under the [[Government of Canada]], raising "significant concerns" and "uncertainty" on the acquisition. The letter raised concerns about the elimination of competition between the two airlines, which would result in "substantial lessening" or "prevention" of competition in the sale of airline vacation packages to Canadians, specifically to ones which are for sun destinations, such as to [[Mexico]] or the [[Caribbean]]. The report stated that "the proposed transaction will result in one of Canada's largest integrated tour operations being acquired by one of its primary rivals in the provision of vacation packages." The report also stated that "overall, WestJet and [[Sunwing]] account for 37 percent of non-stop capacity between [[Canada]] and sun destinations, and 72 percent of non-stop capacity between [[Western Canada]] and sun destinations." The report also outlined warnings in which for the acquisition would take place, it would likely result in "higher ticket prices and lower services offered."

In the report, the Competition Bureau also raised concerns about the "monopoly" that the merger would create on 16 routes between Canada and Mexico or the Caribbean. However, in an emailed statement to the [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] which was sent on October 26, 2022, from Sunwing spokesperson Melanie Anne Filipp said that the routes which were identified by the Competition Bureau were "predominately" in Western Canada and accounted for a "very small portion of Sunwing's operations" - just over 10 percent - and were "primarily seasonal routes". As well, Filipp says that 6 out of 16 routes that the Competition Bureau had identified as a concern were no longer being operated by Sunwing. "We remain confident that this transaction is good news for Canadians."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/sunwing-westjet-competition-1.6629952 | title= Canadian Competition Bureau has "concerns" about planned WestJet Sunwing merger}}</ref>

News outlets have also been quoting [[Air Canada]] and [[Air Transat]]'s failed merger.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.travelweek.ca/news/will-history-repeat-itself-with-the-westjet-sunwing-deal-aviation-expert-weighs-in/ | title= Will history repeat itself between WestJet and Sunwing merger? | date= November 17, 2022}}</ref> The acquisition, which was set to merge Canada's largest airline with Canada's third largest and top leisure airline, fell through, even after the [[Government of Canada|Canadian government]] gave Air Canada and Transat the green light to go through with the merger, which saw Air Canada buyout Air Transat for just over US $150 million. It fell through after [[European Union]] regulators refused to grant Air Canada and [[Transat A.T.]] the go-ahead for the buyout, which is where Air Transat and Air Canada gain lots of revenue - on trans-Atlantic flights from Canada to Europe. In April 2021, Air Canada and Air Transat mutually agreed to terminate the buyout.

On March 10, 2023, the Canadian federal government formally approved the WestJet Sunwing merger. "Today's decision was not taken lightly, especially in light of everything that happened over the holidays for those who flew with Sunwing,” Canadian Transport Minister [[Omar Alghabra]] said in a statement, as he referred to the chaos during the [[December 2022 North American winter storm|December 2022 North American winter snowstorm]] that disrupted millions who had travel plans over the winter holidays. Sunwing's handling over the situation was heavily criticized as it left thousands stranded in [[Cancún]], Mexico. “After considering the pros and cons, we have made the decision that will allow Sunwing to continue to provide affordable vacation packages to Canadians, create more good jobs and protect current jobs as well as Canadians who have already purchased tickets.” he continued. However, with the green light, are several conditions in which the merger must follow. It goes as follows:<ref name="Reynolds">{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/business/2023/06/17/cp-newsalert-westjet-to-shut-down-sunwing-airlines-merge-it-with-mainline-business.html|title=WestJet to shut down Sunwing Airlines, merge it with mainline business|last=Reynolds|first=Christopher|website=[[Toronto Star]] |date=June 17, 2023 |access-date=June 17, 2023}}</ref>

* Extending [[Sunwing]] vacation packages to five new Canadian cities
* Maintaining a vacations business head office in [[Toronto]] and a regional head office in [[Montreal]] for at least five years
* Improve regional connectivity and baggage handling
* Boost net employment at Sunwing's aforementioned [[Toronto]] head office
* Gradually ending its seasonal plane-leasing practice to protect jobs in Canada (refers to Sunwing's seasonal practices of leasing its [[Boeing 737]] aircraft to airlines in Europe, such as [[TUI Group|TUI]], whom it has leased its aircraft to during the summer season for several years now.)

[[File:Swoop Airlines (WestJet) Boeing 737-800 in Toronto (YYZ).jpg|thumb|A [[Boeing 737-800]] still bearing the [[Swoop (airline)|Swoop]] livery in 2024]]
On May 1, 2023, The WestJet Group completed its acquisition of Sunwing Vacations and Sunwing Airlines. Stephen Hunter, formerly the CEO of Sunwing Vacations, has been appointed CEO of the WestJet Group's Vacations Business, responsible for all tour operating and vacation package businesses of both the Sunwing Vacations and WestJet Vacations brands. The WestJet Group's newly combined tour operator businesses, comprising WestJet Vacations and Sunwing Vacations, will be headquartered in Toronto, Ontario and will continue to operate a Montreal office.

On June 17, 2023, WestJet confirmed it will wind down Sunwing Airlines, integrating the low-cost carrier into its mainline business within two years as part of a plan to streamline operations on an unknown date.<ref name="Reynolds"/>

On September 29, 2023, WestJet stated via an announcement that they aim to merge [[Sunwing]]'s entirety into WestJet by October 2024. They plan to convert all of [[Sunwing]]'s 18 [[Boeing 737]] aircraft into WestJet's mainline and transition more than 2,000 current [[Sunwing]] employees into WestJet's existing structure by that date. This merger is on top of WestJet's decision to shut down Swoop, its former ultra-[[low-cost carrier]] which it brought into the market in 2017. As of October 2023, [[Swoop (airline)|Swoop]] has been fully integrated into WestJet; however, the aircraft from Swoop retain the Swoop livery and cabin.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9995938/westjet-to-merge-with-sunwing-airlines-by-october-2024/|title=WestJet to merge Sunwing Airlines by October 2024|website=[[Global News]] |date=September 29, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9758088/westjet-shuts-down-swoop/|title=WestJet will shut down Swoop by October 2023|website=[[Global News]] |date=June 9, 2023}}</ref>