Flair Airlines makes Edmonton its new home base

Flair Airlines made a big splash Tuesday morning, announcing Edmonton International Airport as the discount flyer'snew hub.

The low-fare airline currently based in Kelowna, B.C.says as many as 300 employees, including the airline's executive, will eventually be working out of Edmonton.

"We are thrilled today, to be declaring that Edmonton is our new main transfer hub," said David Tait, Flair's executive chairman. "As such, that makes us Edmonton's hometown airline."

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Tait isn't new to the discount airline industry. Hespent20 years helping Britain's Virgin Atlantic establish itself in the United States'highly competitive airline market.

Flair Airlines settledon Edmonton because of the airline's popularity in the cityand the growth potential it sees at the airport,Taitsaid.

The airline recently hired 30 new flight attendants and says it will relocate as many as 40 current employees from Kelowna to Edmonton, with others coming from Winnipeg and other centres across the country.

California dreaming

"Last week, we actually doubled the amount of flying on a weekly basis we were doing and 65 per cent of that flying comes through Edmonton which is quite remarkable," Tait said. "That flying now takes us from Victoriato Halifax,"

The airline also hinted atexpanding furtherin the winter monthswith flights headinginto southern California, hintingPalm Springs and Disneyland may bepossible destinations.

Flair aimsto fill a void left byAir Canada andWestJet, Taitsaid.

Andthough WestJet recently launched its own discount courier, Swoop, Tait saidhe welcomes the competition.

"What this country has needed in this area is competition for years," Tait said.

"It's a question of keep being a thorn in the side of your competition and leveraging that smallness sowe're very excited about what we can do in this country, and flying south of the border as well."

'More options'

Having Flair based in Edmonton is good news for the airport and the city, saidEdmonton Airports president and CEO Tom Ruth.

"This really fits in, in terms of again the jobs, the investment, and the economic development,"Ruth said.

Morenon-stop flightsmeansmore passengers are flying through the region, he said.

"To have Flair come in and commit to put their hub here is great because it continues with all our airline partners to offer more options for the flying public."

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On its website, Flair Airlines advertises direct flights out of Edmonton to seven Canadian cities, with the cheapest starting at $49 one-way to Abbotsford, B.C.