The Canadian airline industry is about to have one less competitor, and Canadian consumers are scrambling. The news that Lynx Air will roll up its operations on 26FEB at 12:01 a.m. MT sent shock waves through the Canadian business world, and leaves Flair Airlines as Canada’s only ultra-low-cost carrier. The announcement came as Lynx said it had sought and obtained an initial order for creditor protection from the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta. In a news release, Calgary-based Lynx said a combination of factors, including high fuel costs and airport fees, has made it impossible for them to continue operating. Read more
Canadian airlines
Air Transat and Porter Airlines are getting chummier by the day. Air Transat and Porter Airlines are extending their existing code-sharing agreement by creating a joint venture, transforming the current Canadian aviation competitive landscape. The alliance will help Toronto-based Porter and Montreal-based Transat better coordinate flight schedules and routes, which should benefit Canadian consumers and travellers. By combining both airlines’ complementary networks, this Alliance offers travellers significant benefits, officials said, including enhanced travel options across multiple regions. The Alliance expands services between North, Central and South America, Europe, North Africa, Mexico and the Caribbean, integrating Porter’s and Transat’s highly-complementary, Read more
WestJet says it is profitable once again, and is re-committing to providing customers with affordable air travel. WestJet CEO, Alexis von Hoensbroech, today addressed key stakeholders and community members at the Toronto Region Board of Trade. In his address, von Hoensbroech shed light on the airlines’ recent accomplishments and shared insights into its strategic outlook and plans to drive the Group’s growth strategy as Canada’s leading low-cost airline. After a challenging three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the WestJet Group has surpassed its pre-pandemic capacity levels and returned to profitability, setting the airline up for success as it continues Read more
Competition in Canadian skies is about to decrease by a very large amount. Just days after WestJet officials revealed they were merging Swoop Airlines into mainline operations, it now appears they’re going to fold Sunwing Airlines. Canadian Press reports WestJet is planning to wind down Sunwing Airlines, “integrating the low-cost carrier into its mainline business within two years as part of a plan to streamline operations.” In an internal memo obtained by The Canadian Press, Sunwing Airlines president Len Corrado said the change will open up markets for the 18-year-old company as well as its workers. “WestJet will eventually move Read more
The fast-paced airline recovery continues in Canada, with a strong financial report today from Transat A.T. Inc. “For the second quarter of 2023, Transat reported a solid performance, with an adjusted operating income of $56.1 million, nearly 40% higher than in the same quarter of 2019,” said officials from the company, which runs Montreal-based Air Transat. “At mid-year, and based on current booking trends, we are raising the target for the adjusted operating income margin from the initially set range of 4% to 6% to a target of 5.5% to 7% for the fiscal year.” “Several factors contributed to the Read more
