On the heels of having four jets seized for non-payment and industry scrutiny, Ultra-low-cost Carrier (ULCC) Flair Airlines has announced improvements in its business operations. In a recent press conference, Stephen Jones, CEO, Flair Airlines express confidence in airline’s progress with plans to continue growing in the coming year, with additional capacity on the horizon.
Speaking about sustainable aviation, Jones said: “Grams of co2 per passenger kilometer flown is a critical metric for the industry as we look into the future that we all face.”
As per Flair Airlines’ climate action webpage, a 737 MAX 8 with fuel efficiency and emissions 15-30% less than a 737-800. To Jones, the best way to reduce emissions in aviation is to have a high load factor or percentage of seats filled on every flight.
Flair is establishing a new base in Calgary complete with a maintenance facility and hangar, and create nearly 150 jobs, set to be operational by July 2023.
The airline has planned many new routes from Southwestern Ontario’s Kitchener/Waterloo, London and even Windsor to Alberta, British Columbia, and Winnipeg, Manitoba. The airline will launch routes connecting Quebec City to Edmonton and Halifax, Winnipeg to Kelowna, British Columbia; London, Ontario; and Victoria, while Kamloops in central British Columbia will be connected to central Alberta's Edmonton.
Looking ahead, Jones announced Flair Airlines' plans to expand its fleet by adding two additional aircraft to the existing 19 for summer. According to Jones, the expansion aligns with the airline's commitment to meet rising customer demand during the busy travel season.