With the summer peak season well behind us, it's not unusual to see airlines offering special fares to boost demand. In the northern parts of the USA and Canada, that typically means flights southward to the sunny destinations in the US, Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America, and using special fares to spike demand is part of the low-cost carrier model. Go north for a Loonie Yesterday, Flair Airlines (Flair) announced it is proud to launch its $1 base fare initiative, which it said cements its position as the airline dedicated to making travel more accessible for everyone.
The $1 base fare took effect on Wednesday and is now available for travelers on select northbound routes from Mexico, the USA, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic to Canada. Flair added that this initial offer is just the beginning, and it will continue to introduce $1 base fares on different routes across its network throughout the year. CEO Maciej Wilk said Flair is committed to breaking down barriers to travel, making it possible for more people to explore more places more often.
Wilk added: "This $1 base fare launch is not a limited-time gimmick but a sustained commitment to offering unparalleled affordability across our entire network. And yet, our base fare is only a part of the total fare. We hope that airports, particularly in Canada, will follow suit and lower their fees so that more people can be empowered to travel.
" That last reference to Canadian airport fees is, at least partly, behind the fact that it is only northbound flights that are currently on offer. Earlier this month, Flair announced a 19% off base fare sale to celebrate its 19th Birthday, and those were also for south-to-north travel, with Flair saying that "north-to-south fees are typically higher due to high airport fees." Is this a good sign for Flair? The northbound offer presents a unique opportunity for Canadians returning home or travelers from sunny destinations to discover Canada's diverse landscapes.
By being agile in route planning, Flair said the $1 base fares will continue to pop up across various routes, ensuring that affordable travel is always within reach. The 19% off sale was announced on August 19, 2024, as a special Flair Day promotion that would run for one week. The new $1 base fares came just a few days after that promotion ended, and while this is good news for customers, it could raise some concerns about how well Flair is traveling commercially at the moment.
Flair earned the title of Canada' most reliable airline in June but passengers traveling to the US with dogs need to watch for new rules in August On its website, Flair has set up a $1 Base Fare page where customers can keep track of which routes are open for the $1 fare. Flair said travelers should check the page regularly as the routes will frequently change, driven by seasonality and demand. Flair is growing to serve more than 35 cities across Canada, the US, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica.
It has a fleet of 20 Boeing 737s , including 18 of the latest generation 737 MAX 8s, configured in a one-class layout of 189 seats..
