Flair is Flying High on Affordable Airfare
Flair Airlines is shaking things up in Canadian travel, making it affordable for everyone to take to the skies. Led by CEO Stephen Jones, Flair is on a mission to bring down the sky-high prices that have long kept Canadians grounded. Since hitting the scene, Flair has forced other airlines to rethink their pricing, and the result is a win for consumers across the nation.
Flair’s ethos is simple: affordable airfare for all. “For far too long, Canadians have borne the burden of sky-high airfare prices, significantly restricting travel,” Jones says. “In 2018, it was our chance to challenge the status quo, to shake the foundations of an industry that had long favoured the elite over the ordinary traveller.”
By introducing ultra-low fares, Flair has saved Canadians more than $700 million and reduced airfares by an average of 34%. This "Flair Effect," has had ripple effects across the industry, pressuring competitors to lower their prices and better prioritize customer needs.
“The ‘Flair Effect’ measures how much Canadians have saved with Flair’s low fares,” Jones explains. “Everyone benefits from the Flair Effect—even if they don’t fly with Flair.”
Sustainability is another cornerstone of Flair's operations. As Canada’s only Ultra-low Cost Carrier (ULCC), Flair is committed to minimizing its environmental footprint. “We aim to set a new standard for sustainability in the aviation industry,” says Jones. In 2023, Flair boasted one of the lowest annual average emissions at 64g CO2 per passenger kilometre.
Learn more about how the Edmonton Region is Leading the Way on Decarbonization.
Contrary to misconceptions about ULCCs, Flair offers a model that lets customers pay only for what they need through flexible fare options. This no-frills approach keeps costs low and opens up travel for even more people, notes Jones. “Flair offers travellers the chance to travel more and spend less,” he says.
Skeptics question whether the ULCC model can thrive in a country as geographically vast as Canada, but Jones is optimistic. “Countries like Australia and Chile, with similar geographies, have made it work,” he points out. By connecting regional airports and major cities, Flair is proving that its model is not only viable but also beneficial in Canada.
The young airline is keeping its sights on the horizon as it continues its mission of disrupting the airline industry to help make travel affordable and enjoyable. “We want people to be excited about travel, not burdened by it,” Jones says.
Author - Mariam Ibrahim
Mariam Ibrahim is a writer, editor and communications professional currently based in Seoul. She currently serves as Managing Editor of Disruption.
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