A new name for NewLeaf: low-cost carrier now officially Flair Airlines

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This article was published 25/07/2017 (3317 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It was exactly a year to the day that the first NewLeaf Travel Company flight took off from Hamilton to Winnipeg

On Tuesday, the NewLeaf name was retired and Canada’s first ultra-low-cost airline is now officially called Flair Airlines.

In June, Flair, whose planes have been flying New Leaf’s customers for the past year, acquired NewLeaf and combined the entities. Officials from Flair Airlines, based in Kelowna, B.C., said the merger was something that had always been contemplated since the enterprise first launched.

There are no changes in operation under the new name.

The airline currently runs scheduled service to Winnipeg, Halifax, Hamilton, Edmonton and Abottsford, B.C.

Julie Rempel, a spokeswoman for Flair Airlines, said in the next few weeks additional U.S. destinations are likely to be announced.

The airline has been subjected to fierce competition since it began, with routes being mirrored by WestJet, which has also cut its fares to compete. During the year that NewLeaf operated, at least two other Canadian ultra-low-cost airlines were in the process of forming and WestJet itself was working on launching an ultra low-cost offshoot.

Meanwhile, NewLeaf/Flair fares have risen a bit.

But the newly structured entity has taken steps to broaden its marketing reach. For instance, Flair Airlines flights will now be listed on online global distribution system such as Expedia and Priceline. Previously, seats were sold mostly online from NewLeaf’s own site.

The airline still has an office in Winnipeg, but its staff here is down to fewer than 10 people.