Kelowna air travellers get new option for flights to Vancouver, Edmonton
Flair Airlines to begin offering new flights in mid-December
Ultra-low-cost flights are again coming to Kelowna with the expansion of Flair Airlines.
Flair announced Monday it will start offering four-times-a-week non-stop service to Vancouver and three non-stop flights per week to Edmonton, starting Dec. 15.
Prices start at $99 each way, all taxes and fees included.
However, the fare is for the seat on the flight only.
If you want to carry on a bag, it will cost you $31. If you want to check a bag, the cost will be $26.25.
The 737 jet that flies Kelowna-Edmonton continues on to Toronto after a short stop, so passengers starting in Kelowna have the option of buying a Kelowna-Toronto ticket.
Flair has been based in Kelowna for years, but this will be its first time operating flights in and out of the city under its own name.
Flair has generally flown to sun spot destinations from other Canadian cities, run charters up north to the oilpatch and flown charters for Air Transat, Sunwing and Canadian North Airlines.
Before Flair bought NewLeaf earlier this year, Flair was operating flights for the ticket-reselling company between Canadian cities.
For a short while last year, New Leaf’s schedule included non-stops from Kelowna to Regina, Saskatoon and Winnipeg.
Those routes were welcomed because Kelowna didn’t have nonstops to those cities previously.
NewLeaf’s Kelowna-Winnipeg service prompted WestJet to introduce a non-stop connection between the two cities at a lower price.
Eventually, NewLeaf dropped Kelowna, Regina, Saskatoon and other cities to concentrate on service between Abbotsford, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Hamilton and Halifax.
“We are thrilled to return service back to Kelowna, especially as passengers will be able to connect through Edmonton, Vancouver and Toronto,” said Flair vice-president Chris Lapointe.
Monday’s network expansion brings not just Kelowna, but Vancouver and Toronto into the fold.
Kelowna already has 15 flights a day to Vancouver with Air Canada and WestJet and seven flights a day to Edmonton via WestJet.
So, the Flair service isn’t opening up any new routes for Kelowna.
However, Flair’s arrival is expected is amp up competition and potentially push down prices on all airlines.
NewLeaf claimed fares came down 23 per cent on routes it served.
“We’re very excited about this opportunity to grow our relationship with Kelowna’s own Flair Airlines,” said Kelowna airport director Sam Samaddar.
“With Kelowna as their home base, this partnership will create lasting benefits for Okanagan residents and the regional economy.”
Flair’s Kelowna-to-Edmonton flights depart at 12:20 p.m. on Tuesdays and 1:20 p.m. on Thursdays and Saturdays.
The Kelowna-Vancouver flights leave at 1:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
Currently, Flair has five Boeing 737s.
It will be adding a jet in December and another early in the new year.
When those planes come on stream, Flair will announce some more routes, which may include flights to sun holiday destinations. That way, Kelowna might get a nonstop south.
By the spring of 2019, Flair hopes to have 12 aircraft and more routes.