In an op-ed published this week, Flair Airlines' CEO appears to be taking his case for changes to Canada's foreign airline ownership regulations to the public and Canada's business community.
Stephen Jones, president and CEO of Flair Airlines writes in the Financial Post that, before the pandemic, two carriers (Air Canada and WestJet) controlled over 80 per cent of domestic seats in Canada, which has some of the most expensive airfares in the world.
Jones points to “low-cost” carriers as a method of “revolutionizing” air travel, removing unnecessary amenities and focusing on cheaper fares.
Over the last two years, he says the two biggest carriers’ control over domestic seats has dropped to 69 per cent, which Jones believes reflects “a hunger among Canadian consumers for doing flying differently.”
Jones adds that, “it’s time we had a serious look at policies that prevent foreign carriers from moving passengers between two points in Canada, a piece of protectionism that discourages cross-border competition.
"Addressing that in Europe flipped the industry on its head and helped make air travel consumer-centric again.”
The op-ed comes as Open Jaw reported this week, reports say Flair Airlines is in talks to merge with a former Boeing CEO’s U.S. company. Earlier this summer, the airline was forced to restructure to stay onside of Canadian foreign ownership regulations.
