Ultra-low-cost carrier Flair Airlines bringing Ontario flights to St. John's and Deer Lake
St. John's to Toronto will cost $69, Kitchener-Waterloo flight will cost $39
Ultra-low-cost carrier Flair Airlines is expanding in Newfoundland and Labrador, unveiling new flights from St. John's and Deer Lake to Toronto and Kitchener-Waterloo.
The airline announced Thursday it's expanding into St. John's International Airport for the first time, launching non-stop flights to Toronto and Kitchener-Waterloo three to four times a week beginning May 6.
Flair will be the fifth airline at the airport flying from St. John's to Toronto, but CEO Stephen Jones told CBC News they want to attack what he called a "duopoly" in the market.
"People have had a bit of a lock on the market that have been relatively high cost airlines, and therefore need higher fees to cover their cost. We focus on being a really efficient, low-cost airline, and therefore can live at lower fare levels," Jones said.
"We're really looking forward to getting these flights going and getting the aircraft full."
The base fare for the Toronto flight will begin at $69 while the Kitchener-Waterloo flight will begin at $39, including taxes.
The low-cost airline announced it's also expanding routes at Deer Lake Regional Airport and will launch a direct flight from Deer Lake to Toronto.
Flights will begin May 27 and will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at a base fare of $69, according to Flair's website. Jones said all flights — including the St. John's routes — will need to be 90 per cent full to be considered viable.
In a press release, Deer Lake Airport CEO Tammy Priddle said the flight will help create more connections for the airport and provide more options for people on Newfoundland's west coast. That will in turn bring more people to the region, she added.
"It also creates employment in our region, either directly here at the Airport, or indirectly through restaurants, gas stations, accommodators, and tour operators," Priddle said in the release.
Flair already operates a flight from Deer Lake to Kitchener-Waterloo, which Jones said has been successful in the past year.
St. John's Mayor Danny Breen said the new flights are great for the entire province, giving even more access to places like Toronto and the rest of Canada.
"We're thrilled to welcome another airline to our beautiful city and province, especially one that will provide our residents with an ultra-low fare option," he said.
Airport still lacks transatlantic flight
Dennis Hogan, the CEO of St. John's International, said the airport has had discussions with Flair for about two years.
"Having additional service to Toronto Pearson is always a very good thing, particularly at such affordable prices. And we're truly excited about the new non-stop service to Kitchener-Waterloo," he said.
The St. John's airport still lacks transatlantic flights for destinations in Europe and beyond. Hogan said it's a priority for the airline authority, and they expect to achieve their goal of a returning transatlantic flight "at some point in time."
Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Click here to visit our landing page.
With files from Peter Cowan
