Flair Airlines announces new base of operations in Calgary

Ultra low-cost carrier Flair Airlines announced details about its new base of operations in Calgary on Tuesday. The company's CEO Stephen Jones attended the grand opening of the facility, which includes a maintenance facility and a hangar with three aircraft. "As an Alberta-based company, we're proud to showcase our commitment to this region," Jones said Tuesday. "It signifies Flair's continued growth in Canada based on our ultra low-cost, ultra low-fare business model." Jones says the investment represents 150 jobs. "About 40 pilots and 60 flight attendants are already based here now and we'll have approximately 40 maintenance personnel based here in the hangar," he said. Deputy mayor and Ward 8 Coun. Courtney Walcott says the addition of the Flair base is more than just an economic statistic for Calgary. "Calgary has become the third-most diverse city in the country and in that ranking, we have to make sure we are offering choice for that diversity," he said. "It's all about making sure there is a wide selection of opportunities available to you that you can choose how you want to live." He says issues like the affordability crisis make decisions like access to cheaper airfares so much more important. "It is so important to talk about jobs, it is so important to talk about the economy. But for me, the point that is always going to stick out is there is going to be a family who is going to choose to go on vacation and know there is an option here in Calgary for them."<br/>