Flair Airlines announces new route between Kitchener and Abbotsford, B.C.

KITCHENER - Flair Airlines has added a new route from Waterloo Region to Abbotsford, B.C.

On Monday, people will be able to book their flights before they officially take off from the Region of Waterloo International Airport on May 9, 2023.

We've seen the connection between the Kitchener-Waterloo area in southern Ontario generally with the inland, lower mainland in British Columbia," said Eric Tanner, who manages revenue and network planning for the company.

The news comes after the company added a route between Kitchener and Montreal earlier this year.

Based on early forecasting, the route will do well and can help stimulate new demand between the two cities, said Tanner.

The tickets will start at $39, including taxes and fees. If the route becomes popular, the price will increase.

The airport costs at both sides, in Kitchener and Abbotsford, allowed for the low ticket price.

The new line will run round-trip, three days a week - on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

The flight will travel out to Abbotsford, B.C. on each of these days and then turn back.

The company is also adding a new plane to its fleet, with a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft that will be based in Abbotsford.

In 2023, Tanner said, the Edmonton-based company will focus on increasing frequency of flights, including an addition of more than one daily flight from Kitchener to cities like Halifax and Vancouver, and daily flights to Calgary.

New routes from Toronto to Kelowna and Ottawa to Thunder Bay will also be added in June 2023.

Flair serves over 35 cities in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.

The Region of Waterloo has provided Flair with more than $300,000 in subsidies and has tied a $35-million terminal expansion to the airline.

Cheyenne Bholla is a Waterloo Region-based reporter at The Record. Reach her via email: cbholla@therecord.com