Flair Airlines sues Irish leasing company for $50 million over seized jets, claims they were taken in the ‘middle of the night’

Flair Airlines is suing an Irish leasing company for $50 million alleging breach of contract and fraudulent misrepresentation" over the seizure of four of its planes last week.

The lawsuit, filed in the Ontario Superior Court Tuesday against Airborne Capital and several affiliated companies, says that Flair had already agreed to pay an overdue amount when its jets were seized at 3 a.m. Saturday.

The seizures were orchestrated in a bad faith and malicious manner that inflicted the maximum possible harm on Flair, including by interfering with its passenger relationships and trust," the suit alleges. The Lessors sent agents to seize the Aircraft in the middle of the night as passengers were boarding planes for spring break vacations. The Lessors gave Flair no notice whatsoever, which precluded Flair from notifying passengers or making alternative arrangements for its scheduled flight plans."

Airborne didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on the suit.

The suit also alleges that Airborne had found another, more lucrative customer for the planes before seizing them.

After Flair paid millions of dollars in lease payments to the Lessors, the Lessors found a better deal leasing or selling the Aircraft to a third party," the suit said. The Lessors then set Flair up for a technical default and unlawfully terminated the leases and seized the Aircraft on the purported pretence of relatively insignificant amounts that the Lessors alleged had been outstanding for only a matter of days."

The allegations haven't been proven in court, and Airborne hasn't yet issued a statement of defence.

The four airplanes were seized from airports in Toronto, Edmonton and Waterloo on Saturday morning.

More to come ...