Flair Airlines plans cheap flights between US, Canada this fall

Canadians and Americans looking to fly across the border could have one more airline to choose from this fall if coronavirus-related travel restrictions between the two countries are gone by then, as planned.

Canadian budget carrier Flair Airlines said Thursday that on Oct. 31, it will begin flying to six U.S. leisure destinations: Las Vegas; Fort Lauderdale and Orlando-Sanford in Florida; Phoenix-Mesa in Arizona; Hollywood-Burbank and Palm Springs in California.

Flair executives suggest that their tiny airline can undercut big Canadian and American carriers on price.

Swoop, a low-cost carrier owned by Canada’s WestJet, is trying that approach, too.

“You don’t have to rack up debt or save for months to enjoy travel this winter,” Stephen Jones, president and CEO of Flair Airlines said in a statement.

One-way fares will start between 79 to 109 Canadian dollars ($63 to $87).

Flair officials said they will fly to the U.S. from eight Canadian cities, including Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax, Calgary, Ottowa, KitchenerWaterloo and Abbotsford.

The airline is led by a former executive of Hungary’s Wizz Air. It flew charters before converting to a mix of low fares and lots of fees, similar to U.S. carriers Spirit and Allegiant. Flair tried flying to the U.S. once before but

“You don’t have to rack up debt or save for months to enjoy travel this winter,” Stephen Jones President and CEO of Flair Airlines

ended that service in 2019.

Flair has five Boeing 737 Max jets and three older 737s, with eight more Max planes on order.

J.P. MOCZULSKI FILE PHOTO VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS Flair Airlines plans to begin flying between Canada and the United States Oct. 31 if restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic are lifted by then.