WestJet plans to merge Sunwing Airlines into its mainline business within two years as part of an effort to streamline operations in the face of strong competition. The internal memo, obtained by The Canadian Press, has raised concerns about the impact on airfares and travel options for passengers. Sunwing Airlines president, Len Corrado, believes that the integration will open up new markets for the company and its employees. While the exact timeline is still being determined, the integration is expected to take up to a couple of years. This decision comes after WestJet recently decided to fold its budget subsidiary, Swoop, into its flagship operations. These moves reflect the consolidation of the Canadian aviation market following WestJet’s acquisition of Sunwing’s main airline and vacation divisions. Some experts suggest that this consolidation may result in a reduction in flight choices for travelers to various vacation destinations. Despite concerns about higher prices and decreased services, the federal government approved WestJet’s takeover of Sunwing Vacations and Sunwing Airlines. WestJet and Sunwing together account for a significant portion of seat capacity on non-stop flights between Canada and sun destinations. WestJet confirmed the upcoming integration of Sunwing Airlines, while Sunwing Vacations will continue as a separate brand. Sunwing did not respond to a request for comment. This merger raises questions about the seniority of Sunwing pilots and the job security of management. Mark Taylor, president of Unifor’s Sunwing pilots’ group, expressed concerns but expressed a willingness to work with WestJet towards a common goal. The deal between WestJet and Sunwing was approved by Ottawa with several conditions, including the expansion of tour operators’ packages to five new cities, the maintenance of capacity on affected routes, and the retention of vacation business head offices in Toronto and Montreal for at least five years. The agreement added approximately 2,000 employees and 18 Boeing 737s to WestJet’s fleet. Both WestJet and Sunwing are private companies, with Sunwing Travel Group majority-owned by the Hunter family and WestJet owned by Onex Corp. after it went private in a $5-billion deal in 2019.