With the summer season long behind us, it’s not uncommon for airlines to offer special fares to boost demand. In the northern parts of the US and Canada, this usually means flights south to sunny destinations in the US, Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America. Using special fares to boost demand is part of the low-cost airline model.
Go north and get a Loonie
Yesterday, Flair Airlines (Flair) announced that it is proud to launch its $1 Base Fare initiative, solidifying its position as an airline committed to making travel more accessible for all. The $1 Base Fare went into effect Wednesday and is now available to travelers on select northbound routes from Mexico, the United States, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic to Canada.
Image: Flair Airlines
Flair added that this initial offering is just the beginning and the company will continue to introduce $1 base fares on various routes across its network throughout the year. CEO Maciej Wilk said Flair is committed to breaking down barriers to travel so more people can explore more places, more often. Wilk added:
“Introducing a $1 base fare is not a temporary gimmick, but a sustained commitment to offer unprecedented affordability across our network. And yet our base fare is only one part of the total fare. We hope that airports, particularly in Canada, will follow suit and reduce their fees so more people can travel.”
Photo: Flair Airlines
This last reference to Canadian airport fees is at least partly why it currently only offers northbound flights. Earlier this month, Flair announced a 19% discount on its base fare to celebrate its 19th birthday, including on south-to-north flights. Flair said that “north-to-south fees are typically higher due to high airport fees.”
Is this a good sign for Flair?
The northbound offering offers returning Canadians or travellers from sunny destinations a unique opportunity to discover Canada’s diverse landscapes. Flair said the $1 base fares will continue to appear on various routes through flexible routing to ensure affordable travel is always possible.
Photo: nylezuberi | Shutterstock
The 19% discount was announced on August 19, 2024 as a special Flair Day promotion that was to run for a week. The new $1 base rates came just days after that promotion ended, and while this is good news for customers, it may raise some concerns about how well Flair is currently doing commercially.
On its website, Flair has set up a $1 base fare page where customers can track which routes are open for the $1 fare. Flair said travelers should check the page regularly because routes change frequently depending on season and demand.
Flair is expanding its offering and now serves more than 35 cities in Canada, the USA, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. The airline has a fleet of 20 Boeing 737s, including 18 latest generation 737 MAX 8s, which are equipped in a single class configuration with 189 seats.
