Flair tempers fleet expansion plans, targets 50 aircraft by 2027

Flair Airlines has tempered expectations for growing its aircraft fleet, saying it no longer expects to have 50 airliners in service by 2025. The Canadian ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) said it now expects to reach 50 aircraft by 2027, expanding the fleet in response to demand for ultra-low-cost travel. “If we think about what the 50 goal was about, it was more of a statement of our ambition and the potential for the airline, and for the ULCC industry in Canada,” said Stephen Jones, CEO of Flair, speaking in a virtual news conference Nov. 1, 2023. “It was always there to inspire people as to what the scale of this business can be, and we will get there. It’s just that it’ll be a year or two further out than what we expected. We’re very confident in the vision.” Flair currently operates a fleet of 20 Boeing 737 Max 8 and 737-800 airliners, according to the Canadian Civil Aircraft Register. Jones identified the 50-by-2025 goal when he became CEO in 2020, as Flair jockeyed with several other contenders, including WestJet’s since-shuttered Swoop subsidiary. The “Flair 50” goal took a hit in March 2023, when four Flair-operated Boeing 737 aircraft were detained without notice.<br/>