Canada Jetlines promises base fares below $100

Aspiring ultra-low-cost carrier Canada Jetlines Ltd. will fly out of Hamilton and Waterloo, Ont. when it launches next summer and offer customers a base fare below $100, its chief executive said Monday.

Jetlines chief executive Stan Gadek revealed new details for the company’s plans in the race to launch Canada’s first ultra-lowcost carrier at a news conference Monday, announcing that it had reached an agreement with the John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport and was in the midst of discussions with the Region of Waterloo International Airport over plans to begin flying customers starting next summer.

Jetlines will fly two Boeing 737800NG planes out of the two airports beginning June 1 and serve five markets, namely Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Halifax.

The company intends on expanding its service after 60 days, adding two more jets, as well as additional locations such as St. John’s, Las Vegas and Orlando.

During the winter season, Jetlines wants to bump its fleet to six aircraft and fly to more locations in Florida as well as to Cancun, Mexico.

While Gadek did not disclose exactly how low fares will be, he said at a press conference that “it will be about the same as a cost of a pair of jeans. ... these are going to be very affordable jeans,” Gadek said. “We are going to offer an ultra-low fare guarantee to our customers ... We can do that because we will have the absolute lowest costs of any operator.”

The company will also offer its first 1,000 flights for a base fare cost of $10.