Flair Airlines says it’s adding 13 Boeing 737 MAX airliners to its current complement of three older 800 series 737s. The aircraft will be leased from 777 Partners, which has a 25 percent stake in the ultra low cost carrier. “Our efficient new aircraft will provide us the foundation to execute our ULCC business model,” said CEO Stephen Jones. “These planes will enable us to keep fares low while expanding our service to meet travel demand.” The MAX offers some of the lowest seat mile costs in the industry and has only recently emerged from a nearly two year worldwide grounding resulting from two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019.
Flair becomes the fourth Canadian carrier to fly the MAX. WestJet has resumed service with its MAXes and Air Canada will start flying them again on Feb. 1. Sun Wing has a few MAXes but it’s schedule has been obliterated by the federal government’s ban on flights to the sun destinations it serves during winter. The government imposed the ban on all sun destination flights from Canada on Friday. It also instituted a mandatory hotel quarantine for passengers (at their expense) coming into Canada from any other country. Both measures are in effect until April 30.