Travel Advisories

Our priority is the safety of our travellers and employees, and we are committed to adhering to the Government of Canada’s recent policies, travel rules and border measures.

Canada, the United States and a number of destinations to which we fly have introduced new measures to help stop the spread of the Omicron variant. If you have travelled to impacted countries in the last 14 days, ensure you review the requirements for your destination. More information can be found here.

Entering Canada

The Canadian Government introduced an entry restriction to passengers who have been in or transited through these countries in the last 14 days:

Botswana

Egypt

Eswatini

Lesotho

Malawi

Mozambique

Namibia

Nigeria

South Africa

Zimbabwe

Non-Canadian Nationals

Regardless of vaccination or COVID test status, non-Canadian travellers checking in with Swoop, or connecting from an airline partner, who have visited one or more of the listed locations in the past 14 days are prohibited from entering Canada.

If you are unable to travel with us due to this, you may rebook for 14 days after the original flight, or cancel your flight.

Canadian Nationals

Canadian nationals are permitted to travel to Canada if they have been to or transited through the listed countries, however, they must have a pre-departure COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours that has been completed outside of the listed countries. Additionally, upon arrival they must:

Take a COVID-19 test

Take a follow up test on day 8 after arrival

Self-isolate at home for 14 days

If the traveller tests positive for COVID-19 upon arrival, they must quarantine at a government mandated location.

Pre-departure COVID-19 tests

COVID-19 tests performed in any of the listed countries are no longer accepted for travel to Canada. Travellers must obtain new COVID-19 tests before being permitted to board their flight to Canada.

If you are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or individual registered under the Indian Act and taking a trip outside of Canada that’s under 72 hours, this update is for you. Effective November 30, 2021, individuals who fall into one of these categories, who depart Canada and re-enter the country within 72 hours of leaving will be exempt from the obligation to provide a pre-entry PCR or molecular test result.  

This exemption only applies for trips that originated in Canada, and are taken by fully vaccinated Canadian citizens, permanent residents or individuals registered under the Indian Act; it also applies to any children under 12 who are accompanying their family. This does not apply to foreign nationals who originate in Canada, or any person whose travel originates outside of Canada.   

Measurement of the 72 hours is from the time your outbound flight is scheduled to depart from Canada until the time that your return flight is scheduled to depart the foreign location back to Canada.   

Travellers who meet the above criteria are obligated to be able to demonstrate that they have been away from Canada for less than 72 hours, to be validated by the airline before boarding your return flight to Canada.  

Swoop has added new flights between Abbotsford (YXX) and Kelowna (YLW) for travellers in immediate need of transportation or those travelling to assist in the recovery efforts and emergency response.

These flights are being offered for $79 to $99 CAD, all-in, from November 22 to December 15, 2021. We have also increased flights between Edmonton (YEG) and Abbotsford with fares starting at $49 CAD, all-in.

The safety of our travellers and crew is our top priority, and while YXX is open, we understand that not everyone can travel as planned. We are allowing a flexible change policy for travellers with current bookings to and from Abbotsford.

Swoop will continue to share additional details around extra flight segments and recovery efforts as soon as they become available at https://www.flyswoop.com/news-and-press-releases/ For up-to-date information on the Abbotsford International Airport (YXX) please visit www.abbotsfordairport.ca

Effective November 8, 2021  All travellers departing to the United States will have to meet U.S. Government requirements for foreign travellers in addition to those requirements of the Canadian Government. All travellers, with limited exceptions, will have to show both of the following:  -Travellers 18 years or older - proof of full vaccination  -Travellers 2 years and older - proof of an approved negative PCR or Antigen test taken within 3 days prior to the flight  All foreign travellers departing to the United States are required to show proof of full vaccination for those 18 years and over, and proof of an approved PCR or Antigen test taken within 3 days prior to the flight for those 2 years  

For more information please refer to the US CDC Website .

As of November 30, 2021, travellers departing from any Canadian airport will be required to upload or scan their proof of vaccination QR Code during check in. 

How to get your Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination

About the Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination

Swoop is warning travellers of a phone scam using the Swoop brand to solicit travellers to provide their credit information or purchase gift cards in order to process a refund. Swoop is urging all travellers to be aware of this scam and to not share any personal information if you are questioning the caller’s intention. Swoop representatives would never ask you for payment in any form to process a refund. Any impacted traveller who has been a victim of scam or fraud is asked to please contact local authorities and report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

$10 ModiFly:

Until October 31st, add ModiFly to your booking for only $10 for the ability to make a one-time change to your departure date and/or time. Restrictions apply. Any difference in fare still applies; Modifly cannot be used for name changes or cancellations. Bookings must be more than 14 days from departure. Learn more

Border changes Fully vaccinated foreign nationals may be allowed to enter Canada for discretionary travel on the following dates if they meet specific criteria: Effective August 9: American citizens and permanent residents of the United States, who currently reside in the United States, who meet specific criteria to qualify as fully vaccinated September 7 (intended start date): All other foreign nationals who qualify as fully vaccinated    The 3-night hotel stopover requirement will be eliminated for all travellers arriving by air after 12:01 A.M. EDT on August 9.

COVID-19 Testing As of January 7, 2021, Transport Canada requires all air travellers entering Canada from international destinations, five years of age and over, to present a negative or residual positive COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) test result before boarding. The test will supplement, not replace, the requirements for health questionnaires, temperature checks and face masks. To comply with this regulation, travellers will be required to present a negative or residual positive PCR or RT-LAMP test at check-in and Canada Customs, taken within 72 hours from their scheduled departure time. Please allow extra time to check in. It is each traveller’s responsibility to source and pay for their own valid PCR or RT-LAMP test.

Quarantine Effective July 5, 2021 at 00:01 EST, any travellers eligible to enter Canada who are fully vaccinated 14 days prior to boarding a flight to Canada will no longer be required to isolate at government approved accommodations upon arrival and will be exempt from the 14-day self-isolation period. Children that are not fully vaccinated will not have to quarantine at a government approved hotel upon arrival but will still be required to self-isolate for the 14-day period. Before boarding their flight, fully vaccinated travellers are required to provide information related to their COVID-19 vaccination and evidence of COVID-19 vaccination to the Government of Canada via ArriveCAN. Any person who fails to comply with this requirement may be liable to a fine if this requirement applies to them. All other requirements listed below will remain in effect for all travellers.

Please refer to the provincial or territorial government websites of your arrival destination prior to travel for the most up to date information on interprovincial travel restrictions. You may be subject to travel prohibitions which restrict entry to certain provinces or territories or additional measures, such as a mandatory 14-day self-isolation when you arrive.

As of January 26, 2021, all air passengers to the U.S. two years of age or older, including those in transit, will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 72 hours prior to their departure for the U.S. Alternatively, you may also present a written or electronic documentation of recovery from COVID-19. PCR and Antigen tests are acceptable.

All travellers must complete an attestation form before boarding their flight to the U.S. confirming compliance with the requirements. You may be unable to board your flight if you do not have the required COVID-19 test or document of recovery AND the completed attestation form.

Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) site for more information including frequently asked questions about the new testing requirement.

The Jamaican Government requires that all passengers travelling to Jamaica (both Jamaicans and non-nationals) must obtain a travel authorization within 5 days of departure.

Foreign nationals can apply at https://www.visitjamaica.com/  Residents of Jamaica can apply at https://jamcovid19.moh.gov.jm/immigration.html

Travellers will need to save the electronic or printed copy of the Travel Authorization for the airline agent at check-in, or when boarding your flight to confirm acceptance for travel.

In addition to obtaining a Jamaican Travel Authorization, effective 4 March 2021, all travellers must have a medical certificate with a negative Coronavirus (COVID-19) antigen or PCR test result. The test must have been taken at most 3 days before departure from the first embarkation point. Travellers younger than 12 years are exempt from the COVID-19 test requirements.

The Mexican Government requires that all passengers travelling to Mexico fill out an online QUESTIONNAIRE OF IDENTIFICATION OF RISK FACTORS IN TRAVELLERS upon arrival: https://afac.hostingerapp.com/. A print out of the completed questionnaire response or an electronic copy displayed from a mobile device is to be presented to the Immigration officer when entering or departing Mexico.

Please consult the following for any advisories from the Canadian government about travelling to Mexico: https://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/mexico-mexique/.

The Government of Canada now issues Canadian Passports using code X in the gender field for non-binary Canadians. Swoop welcomes the government’s change and is currently investigating the necessary changes to its systems to be able to fully support non-binary travellers for domestic and international travel.

Until Swoop has completed the changes to be able to support code X in the gender field, travellers may be asked to provide their gender information as either male or female at time of booking or check-in.

For more information and guidance on travelling with a gender X passport, please visit the Government of Canada’s website at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports/change-sex.html