Canadian ultra-low-cost carrier Flair Airlines has revealed a new base at Edmonton Airport, seeing four new routes to the United States launched. This, in turn, will create additional jobs in the area and increase connectivity with flights to the West of the US planned.
It seems now that the worst of the pandemic is well and truly behind us. Left, right, and center airlines are now resuming their route networks and adding new routes. This also seems to be the case over in Canada, where ULCC Flair is adding four new routes from a new base in Edmonton.
New Edmonton base
Earlier today, Flair revealed that it would be basing one of its new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in Edmonton. This will see four new US services launched, but the airline will also have seven domestic services which are already operational, including to Toronto and Vancouver.
The first new United States routes will launch on December 16th. The MAX will operate two flights a week to Hollywood Burbank Airport in California and three flights a week to Las Vegas, with fares starting at just $99. Later that week, additional twice weekly services will be launched to Phoenix, Arizona, and Palm Springs, California.
Flair currently employs 75 members of staff in Edmonton. These are operations and business staff. The airline believes that opening the Edmonton base will create 50 new jobs, both directly for new employees hired by the airline and indirectly for staff need to support the operation from third companies.
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Commenting on the launch, Stephen Jones, President, and CEO, Flair Airlines, said,
“Our relationship with Edmonton International Airport will continue to provide benefits to Albertans as our low fares make travel accessible and affordable for everyone. Albertans have been paying way too much for air travel and Flair is here to change that. Having our new 737-8 aircraft and our team members based in Edmonton provides a unique advantage to Flair as we can continue our efficient growth and keep our costs down and our fares low.”
Expansion plans
Flair advertises itself as Canada’s only independent ultra-low-cost carrier. According to data from ch-aviation.com, the airline currently has a fleet of 11 aircraft, with three 737-800s and eight MAX 8s. The airline has an ambitious growth target. It wants to increase its fleet almost five times to encompass 50 aircraft within the next five years.
The airline is currently serving 48 routes connecting 20 domestic destinations within Canada but has ambitions to expand into the United States later this year beyond the routes mentioned above.
What do you make of Flair’s Edmonton expansion? Let us know what you think and why in the comments below!
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