Aviation

April 1 Alert: Introducing, Duty Not Free: Pay-as-you-go toilet time

CALGARY, April 1, 2018 /CNW/ – Swoop, Canada’s only ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC), has confirmed it will charge travellers to use the bathroom when they hit the skies on June 20.

“When our initial network was announced in February, some reporters asked if our unbundled a la carte model would see travellers being charged to use the lavatory, and that got us to thinking,” said Steven Greenway, Swoop President, who joined the company earlier this month. “There are costs associated with offering onboard lavatory amenities: Maintenance, water, cleaning, etc. Since not every traveller needs to use the lavatory on a flight, it stands to reason that using those amenities should only cost the people who use it, and not those who don’t.”

What can travellers expect
To enter the lavatory, you’ll need to tap your credit card and the meter will start running as soon as you lock the door. At $1 per minute, the quicker you do your business, the less you’ll pay. Looking to take your time in there? That’s up to you. The traveller is in control.

When it comes time to clean up your act, just tap your credit card to Swoop’s patent-pending toilet paper dispenser at $0.25 per square. Or if you really want to pinch a penny, you can BYOTP. Select flights will also have a pay bidet for extra cleanliness.

There will also be a selection of luxury products available for an additional fee, including Swooper-Ply toilet paper for the daintiest derrieres, scented soaps, hand-crafted by hipsters, and Swoop Poop sprays to prevent embarrassing odours for $1per spritz.

And be warned, if you don’t wash your hands you’ll pay a hefty $25 penalty for being a germ-spreader… because, EW.

To learn more, check out our Duty Not Free Explainer Video at FlySwoop.com/DutyNotFree.

Aviation

China Eastern Receives Its Ninth C919 Aircraft, Marking a New Milestone

China Eastern Airlines (CEA) has reached a significant milestone with the delivery of its ninth COMAC C919 aircraft, continuing its lead as the launch customer for China’s domestic narrow-body airliner.

On Thursday, the airline received the latest addition to its fleet, registered as B-657T, marking another step in China’s ambitious efforts to establish itself as a key player in the global aerospace market.

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This delivery is part of a major achievement for COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China), which has now delivered a total of 10 comac c919 in 2024 alone, a remarkable increase from just three jets delivered by the end of 2023.

The C919 program represents China’s entry into the competitive market for commercial aircraft, aiming to rival the dominance of manufacturers like Airbus and Boeing in the narrow-body sector.

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One standout feature of the c919 is its innovative in-flight technology, particularly its Wi-Fi system. Developed by the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC), this system allows passengers to connect to the “CEAIR-WIFI” wireless hotspot, providing seamless access to in-flight entertainment.

Through the website www.muflyer.com, travelers can enjoy a range of features including “Air Cinema” and “Air Games,” which enhance the flying experience.

Looking ahead, COMAC’s ambitions are not limited to narrow-body aircraft. At the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, c919 aircraft price made waves with the announcement of over 100 new aircraft orders.

A significant highlight was a high-profile agreement with Air China for the development of the C929, a widebody aircraft set to compete c919 vs a320 and c919 vs 737 with these models.