REGINA – Canadian travellers looking for flight options can now count on a new discount airline called NewLeaf.
The airline is offering non-stop flights to seven Canadian destinations including Halifax, Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon and Kelowna with prices as low as $89.
The travel company, which is headquartered in Winnipeg, announced Wednesday that Kelowna will be the other major hub.
NewLeaf said its goal is to contend with competitors such as Air Canada and WestJet by offering attractive and affordable fares.
At the Regina International Airport, two non-stop routes will start flying on Feb. 12.
From Feb. 12 to Mar. 13, there will be departures from Regina to Kelowna, B.C. on Sundays and departures from Regina to Hamilton on Thursdays.
Then from Mar. 14 to May 1, departures from Regina to Kelowna will increase to two times per week on Monday and Saturday. Flights to Hamilton will still run on Thursdays and a new non-stop route from Regina to Abbotsford, B.C. will fly on Mondays and Saturdays.
The airline said it is booking flights exclusively through its website, on the telephone and selected partners to keep prices low.
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Travellers are allowed to bring on a personal bag for free that fits under the seat. This includes items like purses, laptop bags and average backpacks. Charges will be applied for larger carry-on baggage “as it slows the boarding process.” (Can you add who said this?)
The business plan drew an early comparison to another regional airline, which is now an industry leader in Canada.
“This feels like something very similar to how West Jet started out,” said Jason Childs, an associate professor of economics at the University of Regina.
“There really isn’t a good low cost airline in Canada yet,” he added.
Flights will be operated by Flair Airlines Ltd., a private charter company based in Kelowna which has been flying since 2003.
With files from Alexa Huffman and David Baxter
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