Two air carriers that use Windsor Airport will soon be joining forces.
WestJet announced on Wednesday that it plans to buy Sunwing Airlines and its touring subsidy, Sunwing Vacations, pending approval of the federal Competition Bureau.
The Globe and Mail reported Wednesday that WestJet will operate both airlines out of its headquarters in Calgary, while the tour operations for both carriers will be joined and based in Toronto. The airlines and tour operators will continue marketing as separate entities.
Sunwing's shareholders will hold equity in WestJet but otherwise, terms of the deal were not announced. Both carriers say there will be no layoffs brought on by the merger. The airlines are actively hiring.
WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said that the merger makes good business sense, as WestJet markets to a more affluent clientele and Sunwing is more of a general-market airline.
"We are complementing each other in areas where we both are weak," said von Hoensbroech as reported by The Globe and Mail.
Both companies fly out of Windsor Airport. Sunwing offers commuter flights to Hamilton out of YQG, along with vacation flights to Cuba. WestJet offers direct flights to its hub in Calgary out of Windsor during the summer.
The airline industry is trying to pull itself out of the funk brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, which reduced air travel domestically and even more internationally, resulting in huge financial shortfalls.
Meanwhile, Unifor, which represents about 700 WestJet ticket agents and baggage handlers in western Canada, plus over 450 Sunwing pilots, welcomed the news of the potential merger.
"With the federal government lifting travel restrictions and more Canadians travelling more for business and pleasure, we look forward to fostering good relationships between WestJet and Sunwing in their new capacity," said Scott Doherty, executive assistant to Unifor's national president.
The merger could be completed by the end of this year.