Canada’s newest discount airline has temporarily pulled out of the Calgary market after announcing an optimistic launch last September with its maiden landing in Calgary, focusing on leasing aircraft to other airlines. To do.
Canada Jetlines was scheduled to begin operations on September 22, with twice-weekly flights from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport to Calgary International Airport.
Earlier this year, however, they quietly removed Calgary as a destination from their website. We currently operate round-trip flights from Toronto to Vancouver, Las Vegas and Cancun.
Duncan Bureau, the company’s chief commercial officer, said the decision is temporary.
“I still believe Calgary is a significant part of our market,” he said.
According to the bureau, the original plan was to serve Calgary year-round, but plans fell through when the airline seized the opportunity to lease one of the two aircraft and crew to another airline. Changed.
Currently, one of the company’s planes serves high-demand destinations in Mexico and the United States, while another plane is dedicated to ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance) operations.
The Bureau said it “will likely return to Calgary in the spring or fall of 2023,” but said it would depend on the airline’s ability to add new aircraft to its fleet.
Canada Jetlines currently has two Airbus A320s. This is a 174 seat economy jet. The bureau says he still plans to fly 15 aircraft by 2025.
Prioritizing ACMI operations
According to the bureau, Jetlines recently terminated its ACMI contract and signed an additional five-month daily contract.
An ACMI operation is when an airline provides its aircraft, crew (both cockpit personnel and flight attendants), maintenance, and insurance to another person or company. It works perfectly under that individual’s or company’s schedule and marketing.
“What it does for Jetline is that it gives us guaranteed flight hours at the negotiated rate. It’s going to be significantly less,” said the bureau.
The Bureau did not disclose to whom the aircraft is being leased, but said it is an attractive offer for airlines and they typically take advantage of the opportunity.
