.svg){kind=logo} | |||||||
 A Flair AirlinesBoeing 737 MAX 8 | |||||||
| |||||||
| Founded | August 19, 2005; 20 years ago (2005-08-19) (asFlair Air) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commenced operations | 2017; 9 years ago (2017) (asFlair Airlines) | ||||||
| AOC # | Canada: 14941[3] United States: F8RF148F[4] | ||||||
| Operating bases | |||||||
| Fleet size | 20[5] | ||||||
| Destinations | 34[6] | ||||||
| Headquarters | Edmonton,Alberta, Canada | ||||||
| Key people | Maciej Wilk (Chief Executive Officer) | ||||||
| Employees | 1,250 (Jan 2024)[7] | ||||||
| Website | www | ||||||
Flair Airlines is a Canadianultra low-cost carrier (ULCC) headquartered inEdmonton,Alberta.[8] The airline operates scheduled passenger and chartered services with a fleet ofBoeing 737 aircraft. The airline promotes itself as being Canada's leading independent ULCC.[8][7]
 | This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(May 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
The airline began operations as a privately owned company on August 19, 2005, under the nameFlair Air. In January 2006,Transport Canada authorized the airline to operate scheduled all-cargo services between Cuba and Canada, on behalf ofCubana de Aviación, until April 7, 2006. It also operated some passenger flights on behalf of Cubana. Flair Air operated twoBoeing 727-200 aircraft - one for passenger movements and the other for freight services. During this period, Flair also began providing workforce transportation services to several natural resources and major construction companies across Canada.
Flair began addingBoeing 737-400 aircraft to its fleet in 2008 to replace the727-200s. The airline continued to add these aircraft until delivery of a fifth aircraft in 2015. In January 2014, Flair acquired a VIPEmbraer ERJ-175 and a VIPDornier 328. Both were retired in September 2016. In June 2017, Flair announced it had purchased the assets ofManitoba-based discount travel companyNewLeaf, of which it had been the operator of NewLeaf's flights, as it was not licensed as an airline.[9] Flair retained 85% of former NewLeaf staff in the acquisition,[10] and the NewLeaf brand was retired on July 25, 2017, with flights subsequently operated under the Flair name thereafter.[11][12]
In late 2017, Flair Air rebranded asFlair Airlines, in which it unveiled a new magenta and blue livery, acquired additional aircraft, and announced plans to add more in 2018 and 2019. Two more 737-400s arrived at the airline in December 2017. In 2018, Flair moved its headquarters fromKelowna International Airport toEdmonton International Airport,[13] and777 Partners invested in Flair with the goal of building a Canadian low-fare carrier. In December 2018, Flair received three leasedBoeing 737-800s. These were returned to lessorSmartwings in 2019 as a separately leased trio of 737-800s arrived at the airline.
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 reflected the airline's new "Plane and Simple" branding. The brand makeover included a new livery that remains on the airline's 737-800s. New flight attendant uniforms were also rolled out in September 2019.
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.[14] In August 2020, Flair retired their final Boeing 737-400 aircraft in response to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[15]
In January 2021, Flair announced an order for 13 of theMAX 8 variantBoeing 737 MAX jet from financing partner777 Partners, with plans to grow to 50 aircraft within 5 years. The first of these aircraft arrived in May 2021, with a total of 8 scheduled to arrive over the summer months. The remaining five were planned to arrive before 2022.[16] This order came at a crucial time for Boeing, as it restarted MAX operations following amonths-long grounding of the type.[17] All future aircraft deliveries to Flair were to be painted in an updated livery, which includes the airline's signature acid green and black colours, as well as subtle highlights of light purple. In December 2021, Flair ordered an additional 14 Boeing 737 MAX 8s.[citation needed]
In March 2022, theCanadian Transportation Agency (CTA) ruled that Flair may be in violation of the law that requires it to be controlled by Canadians, and stated that the airline's operating licence may be suspended. Flair denied that it was in violation of Canadian laws and asked for an 18-month exemption to address regulatory concerns.[18] Jones stated that the company would overhaul its board and refinance its debt to reduce foreign influence on the company.[19] TheNational Airlines Council of Canada, which representsAir Canada,Air Transat, andWestJet released a statement asking the CTA to reject Flair's request.[20] In a statement issued on April 21, Jones stated that the airline had a "zero chance" of losing its operating licence and criticized the lack of competition in the Canadian airline industry.[21] On June 1, 2022, the CTA allowed Flair to keep its operating licence after concluding the airline is Canadian.[22]
According to theCanadian Transportation Agency, Flair had the highest number of complaints per 100 flights of the major airlines in Canada, averaging 15.3 complaints per 100 flights over the period of April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023. In comparison, the largest two airlines in Canada,Air Canada andWestJet, had 4.3 and 6.6 complaints per 100 flights, respectively.[23]
The Canadian Transportation Agency again reported that Flair had the highest numbers of complaints in the first quarter of 2023, with 20.9 complaints per 100 flights. Low-cost leisure carrierSunwing Airlines was second-worst with 17.4 complaints per 100 flights, while low-cost carrierLynx Air registered 5.2 complaints per 100 flights over the same period.[24]
On March 11, 2023, Airborne Capital Ltd. seized four of its planes operated by Flair over alleged non-payment. In a press conference, Flair CEO Stephen Jones suggested the seizures were motivated by competitors, and that the airline owed around US$1 million on the leases, and was in the process of making payment when the seizures occurred.[25][26] The lessor, Airborne alleged that Flair had repeatedly missed payments amounting to several millions of dollars over a period of five months. Flair used other aircraft to continue to operate its schedule.[27] In January 2024, it was reported that the lessors had filed claims at theUK High Court for costs and that there had been outstanding payments of $1.8 million on the four aircraft when notice of default was served.[28]
This is a list of destinations that Flair Airlines has operated.[6] It includes destinations served after the airline began scheduled flights in 2017 following the acquisition of Canadian travel companyNewLeaf, but does not include or specify destinations served by charter flights that the airline mainly operated between 2005 and 2017.
In December 2017, aninterline agreement betweenHahn Air and Flair Airlines was announced.[63] According to iFly.com, Flair Airlines hascodeshare agreements withAir Transat,KLM, andAir Europa.[64]
Between 2007 and 2010, Flair was the exclusive supplier of large aircraft toShell Canada's project atAlbian Sands. 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 ofFort McMurray, Alberta.
On October 7, 2013, Flair announced a ten-year agreement withShell Energy Canada to provide air charter transportation services within Canada. Flair provided logistics planning, passenger reservations, and third-party charter aircraft procurement through a new subsidiary called North Sands Air Services.[65]
In September 2010, Flair was approached by an Ontario-based tour company to operate a world tour program to 14 countries. Flair reconfigured one of its Boeing 737-400s from 158economy class seats to 76business class seats.
In 2011, Flair operated another world tour to 14 new destinations.
In October 2013, Flair operated a South American tour to 10 destinations.
Flair has provided ongoing personnel movement for theDepartment of National Defence and other departments of the Canadian federal government.
Flair also offersaircraft, complete crew, maintenance, and insurance (ACMI) charters which provide customers with a 'turn-key' aircraft package.
Flair used to operate flights on behalf of other Canadian airlines, such asAir Transat.[66]
As of September 2025[update], Flair Airlines operates an all-Boeing 737 fleet of the following aircraft:[5]
| Aircraft | In service | Orders[67] | Passengers[8] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-800 | 2 | — | 186 | |
| Boeing 737 MAX 8 | 18 | ? | 189 | |
| Total | 20 | — | ||
On March 11, 2023, the fleet size was reduced by four Boeing 737s (one 737-800 and three 737 MAX 8) due to seizure by the aircraft lessor.[25][68]
Flair announced in 2021 they would aim to operate 50 aircraft by 2025. In 2023, this goal was officially pushed back to the end of 2027. Flair has not acquired any new aircraft since June 2023, and it is unclear how, when, or where they will acquire these aircraft, or whether this goal is still active.[69]
Flair Airlines has previously operated the following aircraft types:[70]
| Aircraft | Total | Introduced | Retired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 727-200 | 2 | 2005 | 2010 |
| Boeing 737-400 | 8 | 2008 | 2020 |
| Cessna 340 | 1 | 2009 | 2015 |
| Dornier 328 | 1 | 2014 | 2016 |
| Embraer 175 | 1 | 2014 | 2016 |
Flair's aircraft are configured with 186 or 189economy class seats in a 3–3 layout. As alow-cost carrier, the airline charges additional fees for various services and amenities, including additional baggage allowances and in-flight catering.[8] Flair does not offer in-flight entertainment or in-flight internet access (Wi-Fi).
Flair Airlines: FLE, FLAIR
Media related toFlair Airlines at Wikimedia Commons