WestJet completes Swoop and Sunwing cabin overhaul
WestJet completed the cabin transformation of its remaining all-economy Boeing 737 aircraft on 18 August 2026, integrating former Swoop and Sunwing fleets into a three-class product. The airline also completed legroom restoration ahead of schedule.
WestJet announced on 18 August 2026 that it has completed the cabin transformation of its remaining all-economy Boeing 737 aircraft, completing a three-year process of integrating the fleets of its former ultra-low-cost subsidiaries Swoop and Sunwing Airlines into a unified narrowbody product with three cabin classes.
The refreshed aircraft now offer three distinct cabins: Premium seating, an expanded Extended Comfort section and a standard Economy cabin, alongside enhanced amenities and a refreshed interior. The aircraft had previously operated in a single all-economy configuration that reflected the stripped-back product philosophy of Swoop and Sunwing before their integration into the WestJet group. The completion marks the end of a product gap that left some WestJet passengers on very different onboard experiences depending on which aircraft they flew.
The announcement also confirmed a second milestone delivered ahead of schedule. WestJet completed the restoration of legroom on Boeing 737 aircraft that had briefly operated with a 180-seat configuration, finishing the project in mid-June rather than the autumn deadline originally planned. The 180-seat layout, which reduced base economy seat pitch to 28 inches and removed recline, generated significant passenger backlash when it was introduced in September 2025; WestJet halted the densification programme and reversed course, returning all affected aircraft to a 174-seat layout with standard pitch and recline.
The next phase of the cabin programme begins in September 2026. Approximately 14 legacy Boeing 737-800 aircraft will receive the upgraded amenities and expanded Extended Comfort configuration this year, with the full legacy fleet refurbishment programme expected to complete by the end of 2027. WestJet also confirmed that all of its narrowbody aircraft will carry the airline's teal and navy livery by the end of 2026, completing the external fleet consolidation that followed the absorption of Swoop's and Sunwing's branding.
Samantha Taylor, WestJet Group Executive Vice-President and Chief Experience Officer, said: "Unifying our narrowbody fleet is an important step in delivering the reliable and welcoming experience our guests and WestJetters expect from us." The completion of the all-economy retrofit programme closes a chapter that began when WestJet folded Swoop into its mainline operation and reintegrated the Sunwing Vacations fleet following its 2023 acquisition, leaving the Canadian carrier with a narrowbody fleet that was internally inconsistent in both cabin layout and passenger experience.
