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Flair airlines expands to Toronto, Vancouver and Kelowna; names Edmonton main transfer hub

Click to play video: 'Another discount air carrier enters Canadian market – but will it survive?'
Another discount air carrier enters Canadian market – but will it survive?
Another discount air carrier enters Canadian market – but will it survive? – Dec 16, 2017

Canadians will soon have more options for flights across the country — just in time for the holiday season.

Flair Airlines is expanding to three additional airports: Toronto Pearson International Airport, Vancouver International Airport and Kelowna International Airport.

The airline currently operates flights out of Abbotsford, Edmonton, Halifax, Hamilton and Winnipeg, and called the expansion a “significant milestone.”

READ MORE: Flight prices in Canada down 23% on routes served by low-cost carrier NewLeaf 

“The addition of these three airports directly extends our reach into some of Canada’s larger and more popular destinations,” said Chris Lapointe, vice-president of commercial operations.

“Flair is thrilled to expand and bring with us our low fares and welcome new passengers.”

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The airline also announced the Edmonton International Airport will be Flair’s main transfer hub.

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“EIA is the perfect fit for Flair. It is a major international airport that connects people to around the world,” said Julie Rempel, communications and marketing representative.

READ MORE: Discount airline NewLeaf nearly doubles flights at Edmonton International Airport

Flights between Toronto, Vancouver, Kelowna and Edmonton will take off several times a week, depending on the route and whether it is direct or has stops. For example, Flair said it will have seven direct flights to Toronto out of Edmonton each week. In addition, there will also be four direct flights to Vancouver and three to Kelowna.

Flights to the three new markets will begin on Dec. 15, and tickets are now on sale. As well, the airline said passengers are now able to book flights through to the end of 2018.

“This is just the beginning of many more announcements such as this,” Lapointe said. “We are adding more aircraft and as we do, our network will grow significantly.”

Flair Airlines currently has five Boeing 737s, and said it will be getting one more aircraft in December, and then a seventh in early 2018. The airline plans to be operating 12 aircraft by the spring of 2019.

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Flair said since last year, it has flown over 376,600 passengers on over 3,090 flights.

READ MORE: Flair Airlines buys NewLeaf Travel to become one company

In addition to commercial flights, the company operates charter flights for private companies and other airlines such as Air Transat, Sunwing and Canadian North Airlines.

Earlier this year Flair bought discount airline NewLeaf Travel to become one company, based in Kelowna. The two companies had been linked since the launch of NewLeaf, with Flair providing the actual flights and NewLeaf selling tickets.

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