Flair Airlines

Flair Airlines is a Canadian ultra low-cost airline headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta,[7] with its main hub at the Edmonton International Airport. The company operates scheduled domestic passenger services and charters in Canada, USA, and internationally.

Flair Airlines
A Boeing 737-800 in the new 2019 livery
IATA ICAO Callsign
F8[1] FLE FLAIR
Founded2005
AOC #Canada: 14941[2]
United States: F8RF148F[3]
HubsEdmonton International Airport
Secondary hubsVancouver International Airport
Fleet size6[4]
Destinations11[5]
HeadquartersEdmonton, Alberta, Canada
Key peopleJim Scott, president/CEO[6]
Employees300+
Websitehttps://flyflair.com/

Flair Airlines currently possesses licenses to operate both domestic and international large aircraft charters and is currently operating a fleet of three (3) Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The company slogan is Plane and Simple.

History
First logo, 2005–2017

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, until April 7, 2006. It also operates some passenger flights on behalf of Cubana.

2005–2006

Flair Air operated two Boeing 727-200 aircraft, one for passenger movements and the other for freight services.

2007–2008

Flair began providing workforce transportation services to several natural resources and major construction companies across Canada.

2009–2019
Flair Airlines Logo
A Flair Airlines Boeing 737-400 in the pre-2017 livery

Flair began adding Boeing 737-400s to its fleet in 2008 and 2010 to replace the 727-200s. In 2013, Flair added another 737-400 to its fleet, bringing the total fleet to five. 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 late 2017, Flair Air became Flair Airlines, unveiled a new livery, acquired additional aircraft and announced plans to add more in 2018 and 2019.

2018 Flair moves its headquarters to Edmonton International Airport and 777 partners invests in flair with the goal of building a Canadian low fare carrier.

2019–present

In February 2019, Flair went through a "top to bottom" makeover changing its signature colours 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 will adorn all future aircraft slated to be delivered beginning in March 2019. A new flight attendant uniform was also rolled out in September 2019. To date, Flair has flown nearly one million passengers.

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]

Charters

Workforce transportation

Between 2007 and 2010 Flair was the exclusive supplier of large aircraft lift to Shell's Albian Sands project 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 (ACMI) charters which provide customers with a 'turn-key' aircraft package.

Passenger charters

Flair Airlines provides both single (ad hoc) and ongoing (series) charter flights. Flair operates a fleet of Boeing 737-400 aircraft capable of transporting up to 156 passengers worldwide. Flair operates flights on behalf of other Canadian airlines, including Air Transat.

Destinations

Flair was the operator of flights for Manitoba-based discount travel company and virtual airline NewLeaf from NewLeaf's founding in 2016.[9] In June 2017 Flair announced it had purchased the assets of NewLeaf and intended to expand destinations.[10]

The NewLeaf brand was retired on July 25, 2017 and flights are now operated under the main Flair brand.[11][12]

Flair Airlines operates flights to the following Canadian destinations as of May 2020.[5]

City Airport Destinations Notes
Calgary Calgary International Airport Kelowna, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Victoria
Charlottetown Charlottetown Airport Toronto seasonal
Edmonton Edmonton International Airport Kelowna, Prince George, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria Hub
Fort McMurray Fort McMurray International Airport Toronto, Vancouver (both begin 26 August 2020)
Halifax Halifax Stanfield International Airport Ottawa, Toronto seasonal
Kelowna Kelowna International Airport Calgary, Edmonton, Prince George, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg
Prince George Prince George Airport Edmonton, Vancouver (Both begin 23 August 2020)
Regina Regina International Airport Toronto, Vancouver (Both begin 24 August 2020)
Saint John Saint John Airport Toronto seasonal
Saskatoon Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport Toronto, Vancouver (Both begin 27 August 2020)
Ottawa Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Toronto
Toronto Toronto Pearson International Airport Calgary, Charlottetown, Edmonton, Halifax, Ottawa, Saint John (NB), Vancouver, Winnipeg Focus city
Vancouver Vancouver International Airport Calgary, Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Kelowna, Prince George, Regina, Saskatoon, Toronto, Victoria Secondary hub
Victoria Victoria International Airport Vancouver (begins 23 August 2020)
Winnipeg Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport Calgary, Kelowna, Toronto, Vancouver

Fleet

Current fleet
A Flair Airlines Boeing 737-400 in the 2017-2019 livery

As of March 2020, Flair Airlines has the following aircraft registered with Transport Canada:[4]

Flair Airlines fleet
Aircraft In service Orders Passengers Notes
Boeing 737-400 3 156 Will be phased out by summer 2020[13]
Boeing 737-800 3 1 189 One registered in April 2019 and two in August 2019[4]
Total 6 1

In addition the Transport Canada website lists two Boeing 737 Classic but with cancelled certificates.[14]

Fleet development

On Monday, September 11, 2017, Flair Airlines announced that as a part of their expansion, they would be acquiring additional aircraft in 2018 and 2019. Flair planned to have a fleet of eight aircraft by spring of 2020.

gollark: TIO needs you to use `-fPIC` somehow.
gollark: <@!309787486278909952> Gaze upon my beauteous C.
gollark: It has* been tested.
gollark: I'm PRETTY SURE that should work.
gollark: bees you, TIOpy.

References
  1. Airline and Airport Code Search
  2. Transport Canada (2019-08-31), Civil Aviation Services (CAS) AOC. wwwapps.tc.gc.ca.
  3. "Federal Aviation Administration - Airline Certificate Information - Detail View". av-info.faa.gov. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  4. "Canadian Civil Aircraft Register: Quick Search Result for Flair Airlines". Transport Canada. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  5. Schedule
  6. Founder of Canada Jetlines takes helm as CEO of rival Flair Airlines
  7. "Buy Flair Airlines Flights".
  8. "Flair Airlines introduces 90-day pass for unlimited spring flights". calgary.ctvnews.ca. February 5, 2020.
  9. Aumell, Christian (June 7, 2017). "Flair Airlines buys NewLeaf Travel to become one company". Global News. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  10. "Flair Airlines purchases assets of no-frills flight service NewLeaf". CTV News Winnipeg. The Canadian Press. June 7, 2017. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  11. "Airline turning over a 'NewLeaf' on anniversary". CTV News Winnipeg. July 25, 2017. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
  12. McNeil, Shane (July 25, 2017). "NewLeaf begins 'new chapter' with name change". BNN. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
  13. "Canada's Flair Airlines to retire B737-400s by summer 2020". ch-aviation. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  14. Canadian Civil Aircraft Register: Aircraft Details - C-FLEN, Canadian Civil Aircraft Register: Aircraft Details - C-FLER
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