Flair Airlines
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 A Boeing 737-800 in the 2019 livery | |||||||
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| Founded | 2005 | ||||||
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| AOC # | Canada: 14941[2] United States: F8RF148F[3] | ||||||
| Operating bases | |||||||
| Fleet size | 12[4] | ||||||
| Destinations | 28[5] | ||||||
| Headquarters | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | ||||||
| Key people | Stephen Jones, president/CEO | ||||||
| Employees | 300+ | ||||||
| Website | https://flyflair.com/ | ||||||
Flair Airlines is a Canadian low-cost airline headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta,[6] with its main hub at Edmonton International Airport. The company operates scheduled domestic passenger services and charters in Canada, USA, and internationally.
Flair Airlines has licenses to operate domestic and international large aircraft charters and operates a fleet of three Boeing 737–800 and eight Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, with 8 more MAX 8s on order. The company slogan is Plane and Simple. The airline promotes itself as being Canada's only independent Ultra Low-Cost Carrier (ULCC).[6]
History[]
The airline is privately owned and started operations on August 19, 2005 as Flair Air. In January 2006, Transport Canada authorized the airline to operate scheduled all-cargo services between Cuba and Canada, on behalf of Cubana de Aviación, until April 7, 2006. It also operates some passenger flights on behalf of Cubana.
2005–2008[]
Flair Air operated two Boeing 727–200 aircraft, one for passenger movements and the other for freight services.
Flair began providing workforce transportation services to several natural resources and major construction companies across Canada.
2008–2019[]
Flair began adding Boeing 737-400s to its fleet in 2008 to replace the 727-200s. The airline continued to add these aircraft until delivery of a fifth aircraft in 2015. In June 2017 Flair announced it had purchased the assets of Manitoba-based discount travel company NewLeaf – Flair had been the operator of NewLeaf's flights, as it was not licensed as an airline. Flair retained 85% of former NewLeaf staff in the acquisition.
In January 2014, Flair acquired a VIP Embraer ERJ-175 and a VIP Dornier Do-328. Both were retired in September of 2016.
In late 2017, Flair Air became Flair Airlines, unveiled a new magenta and blue livery, acquired additional aircraft, and announced plans to add more in 2018 and 2019. Two more 737-400s arrived at the airline in December 2017.
In 2018, Flair moved its headquarters from Kelowna International Airport to Edmonton International Airport[7] and 777 Partners invested in Flair with the goal of building a Canadian low-fare carrier.
In December 2018, Flair received three leased Boeing 737-800s. These were returned to lessor Smartwings in 2019 as a separately leased trio of 737-800s arrived at the airline. These three currently remain in Flair's fleet.
2019 rebranding–present[]
In February 2019, Flair went through a "top to bottom" makeover, changing its signature colors from purple and red to acid green and black. This reflects the airline's new "Plane and Simple" branding. The brand makeover included a new livery that currently remains on the airline's three 737-800s. New flight attendant uniforms were also rolled out in September 2019.
In February 2020, Flair offered unlimited travel in the form of a one-time fee 90-day pass valid between February 13 and May 13, 2020.[8]
Flair retired their final Boeing 737–400 aircraft in August 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic.[9][unreliable source?][10]
In January 2021, Flair announced an order for 13 Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets, a first step in the airline's plan to grow to 50 aircraft within 5 years. The aircraft will be leased from financing partner 777 Partners. The first of these aircraft arrived in May 2021, with a total of 8 scheduled to arrive over the summer months. The remaining five will arrive before 2022.[11] 777 Partner's full order consisted of 24 MAX 8s, with options for 60 more. This order came at a crucial time for Boeing, as it dealt with a revamp of MAX operations following a months-long grounding of the type.[12] All future aircraft deliveries to Flair will be painted in an updated livery, which includes the airline's signature acid green and black colors, as well as subtle highlights of light purple.
Charters[]
Workforce transportation[]
Between 2007 and 2010 Flair was the exclusive supplier of large aircraft lift to Shell Canada's project at Albian Sands where, at its peak, the airline was moving over 10,000 construction workers per month from 14 points across Canada into Shell's project site, north of Fort McMurray, Alberta.
On October 7, 2013, Flair Airlines announced that it had entered into a ten-year agreement with Shell Energy Canada Ltd. to provide exclusive air charter transportation services within Canada. Flair will provide logistics planning, passenger reservations, and third-party charter aircraft procurement, all of which will be accomplished by a new workforce transportation services company called North Sands Air Services Ltd.
Around the world tours[]
In September 2010, Flair Air was approached by an Ontario-based tour company to operate a world tour program. The program included travelling to 14 countries worldwide. Flair reconfigured one of its Boeing 737-400's from 158 Y class seats to 76 business class seats. Flair Air obtained international permits, over-flight permissions, and ground arrangements to operate in each of the 14 countries.
In 2011, Flair Airlines operated another world tour to 14 new destinations.
In October 2013, Flair Air operated a South American tour to 10 destinations.
Government charters[]
Flair Airlines has provided ongoing personnel movement for the Department of National Defence and other departments of the Canadian federal government.
ACMI charters[]
Flair also offers aircraft, complete crew, maintenance, and insurance (aircraft, complete crew, maintenance, and insurance or ACMI) charters which provide customers with a 'turn-key' aircraft package.
Passenger charters[]
Flair used to operate flights on behalf of other Canadian airlines, such as Air Transat.
Destinations[]
Flair was the operator of flights for Manitoba-based discount travel company and virtual airline NewLeaf from that company's founding in 2016.[13] In June 2017 Flair announced it had purchased the assets of NewLeaf and intended to expand destinations.[14]
The NewLeaf brand was retired on July 25, 2017 and flights are now operated under the main Flair brand.[15][16]
Flair Airlines announced major expansion plans for the summer of 2021, starting service to new cities in May, June, July and August.[17]
Flair Airlines announced in July 2021 the start of flights to the United States with flights to Fort Lauderdale, Orlando-Sandford, Las Vegas, Palm Springs and Burbank starting November 2021.[citation needed]
On November 16, 2021, Flair Airlines announced the start of flights to Mexico in February 2022 with flights to Cancun and Los Cabos.[18]
Fleet[]
Current fleet[]
As of November 2021, Flair Airlines operates the following aircraft:[4]
| Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passengers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737–800 | 3 | — | 186[26] | |
| Boeing 737 MAX 8 | 9 | 18 | 189[26] | Deliveries complete by 2023.[27] |
| Total | 12 | 18 | ||
Former fleet[]
In its history, Flair Airlines has flown Boeing 727–200, Boeing 737–400, Embraer ERJ 170, Dornier 328 and Cessna 340 aircraft.[28]
References[]
- ^ "Airline and Location Code Search". www.iata.org.
- ^ Transport Canada (2019-08-31), Civil Aviation Services (CAS) AOC. wwwapps.tc.gc.ca.
- ^ "Federal Aviation Administration – Airline Certificate Information – Detail View". av-info.faa.gov. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
- ^ a b "Canadian Civil Aircraft Register: Quick Search Result for Flair Airlines". Transport Canada. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- ^ Where We Fly
- ^ a b "Flair Airlines – About". flyflair.com. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- ^ Bartko, Karen. "Flair Airlines moving headquarters from Kelowna to Edmonton". Global News.
- ^ "Flair Airlines introduces 90-day pass for unlimited spring flights". calgary.ctvnews.ca. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
- ^ "Flair Airlines Fleet Details and History". www.planespotters.net. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- ^ "777 Partners and Flair Airlines Confirmed for Boeing 737 MAX – AirlineGeeks.com". AirlineGeeks.com – LIVE. LOVE. AVIATION. March 13, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- ^ Lampert, Allison (March 18, 2021). "Flair goes frugal as 737 MAX buyer plans European-style relaunch". Reuters. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- ^ "Flair Airlines Announces Boeing 737 MAX Order – AirlineGeeks.com". AirlineGeeks.com – LIVE. LOVE. AVIATION. January 28, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- ^ Aumell, Christian (June 7, 2017). "Flair Airlines buys NewLeaf Travel to become one company". Global News. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
- ^ "Flair Airlines purchases assets of no-frills flight service NewLeaf". CTV News Winnipeg. The Canadian Press. June 7, 2017. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
- ^ "Airline turning over a 'NewLeaf' on anniversary". CTV News Winnipeg. July 25, 2017. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
- ^ McNeil, Shane (July 25, 2017). "NewLeaf begins 'new chapter' with name change". BNN. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
- ^ https://flair-cms-f8-prod.flyflair.com/uploads/New_Routes_Press_Release_Feb_2021_2_10_FINAL_c640c259d4.pdf[dead link]
- ^ "Flair Airlines to fly to Mexico starting in February". therecord.com. November 16, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
- ^ "YMM Safely Expands Domestic Air Service with Flair Airlines". Fort McMurray International Airport. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
- ^ Knull, Danielle (June 16, 2021). "Flair Airlines Announces Service to Grande Prairie". www.grandeprairieairport.com. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
- ^ "Flair Airlines leaving Hamilton's airport, will fly out of Toronto | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
- ^ "Flair Airlines inks deal to fly out of Waterloo region's airport". cbc.ca. February 10, 2021.
- ^ "Ultra-low-cost airline Flair will offer several routes from Montreal". Montreal Gazette. March 30, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Airlines, Flair (December 17, 2018). "Flair Airlines Expands to the USA". GlobeNewswire News Room. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
- ^ a b c Airlines, Flair (December 17, 2018). "Flair Airlines Expands to the USA". GlobeNewswire News Room. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
- ^ a b About Us
- ^ Singh, Jay (December 15, 2021). "Flair Airlines Goes Big With Plans For 14 More Boeing 737 MAX 8s". Simple Flying. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
- ^ Canadian Civil Aircraft Register: History Search Result
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Flair Airlines. |
- 2005 establishments in British Columbia
- Air Transport Association of Canada
- Airlines established in 2005
- Canadian companies established in 2005
- Companies based in Kelowna
- Companies based in Edmonton
- Low-cost carriers
- Charter airlines of Canada
- Cargo airlines of Canada
- Privately held companies of Canada