(Calgary) Lynx Air, a new low-cost Canadian airline, will take off next year, joining a growing group of carriers vying for more budget-conscious travelers as the country emerges from the COVID pandemic -19.
Lynx’s takeoff was announced Tuesday at an event at Calgary International Airport, its headquarters.
Formerly known as Enerjet – a charter company that announced in 2018 its intention to transform into a low cost commercial carrier – Lynx has experienced players in the aviation industry in its ranks.
It was notably founded by a group of investors led by Tim Morgan, a former senior executive at WestJet Airlines.
In addition, Lynx will be led by Merren McArthur, who previously served as CEO for Tigerair Australia, Virgin Australia Regional Airlines and Virgin Australia Cargo.
The CEO said on Tuesday that Lynx will operate under the ultra-low cost carrier model, meaning passengers will be offered lower base fares and may pay additional fees for services such as the baggage check-in and cancellations.
“Airfares have always been high here in Canada, and at Lynx, we believe that many Canadians cannot afford to travel, or cannot afford to travel as much as they want,” said Mr.me McArthur. “Lynx’s mission is to make air travel accessible to everyone. ”
The super low-cost model proved popular in Europe and the United States, but until recently it had not been replicated in Canada. However, that is about to change. Edmonton-based Flair Airlines has already announced a major expansion of its own fleet and range of flights this year, while WestJet also offers its own low-cost service, Swoop.
Lynx – which has yet to announce any flights or schedules – plans to operate a fleet of Boeing’s newest 737 aircraft. The airline has firm orders and leases in place for a total of 46 aircraft over the next seven years to meet expected demand, Mr.me McArthur. The company is expected to receive its first three Boeing 737s in early 2022.
Mme McArthur said the new carrier would hire a maximum of 450 people, most of them in Calgary, to support its launch.
She added that while the airline plans to start offering flights to domestic destinations, it intends to expand to eventually offer cross-border and international services.