In the statement confirming the plan to shut down Sunwing, von Hoensbroech says competition in the Canadian airline market ?has never been healthier and, after a challenging three years, aviation is back, with passenger traffic doubling in Canada since March 2022.?

No, Sunwing Airlines is not shutting down, but it is undergoing a significant corporate transition. In 2023, the WestJet Group completed its acquisition of Sunwing, and as of 2026, the two airlines are being fully integrated. This means that while the "Sunwing" brand name continues to exist for vacation packages (Sunwing Vacations), the airline operations are being absorbed into WestJet. Most Sunwing aircraft are being repainted or rebranded, and the flight crews are being transitioned into the WestJet workforce. This "winding down" of Sunwing as a standalone airline is part of WestJet's strategy to consolidate its fleet and offer a more streamlined service for Canadian travelers heading to sun destinations. For travelers, this change is mostly "behind the scenes"; you might book a Sunwing vacation but find yourself flying on a WestJet-operated aircraft. The integration aims to improve operational reliability and provide more destination options under a single, larger Canadian carrier.