By Skies Magazine | August 2, 2016 Estimated reading time 5 minutes, 49 seconds.
NewLeaf Travel flights are operated by Flair Airlines Boeing 737-400s.
Winnipeg-based ultra low-cost carrier NewLeaf Travel Company carried out its inaugural revenue flight from Hamilton, Ont., to Winnipeg, Man., (extending to Kelowna, B.C.) on July 25, 2016.
Operating using a Flair Airlines Boeing 737-400, the flight departed John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport to Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport.
This is the first of 11 of NewLeaf’s non-stop, ultra-low-cost routes across Canada. The list of destinations also includes Halifax, N.S.; Moncton, N.B.; Regina and Saskatoon, Sask; Edmonton, Alta.; and Kelowna, Kamloops, Abbotsford and Victoria, B.C.
The flights are operated using Boeing 737-400s in full Flair colours (with no of NewLeaf markings). Fares start as low as $79.
The ramp up to operations was promising. On July 18, 2016, NewLeaf announced an expansion to its route map, with a new non-stop flight between Edmonton and Winnipeg, which will run on Thursdays and Sundays beginning Aug. 21, 2016, for a rate of $99 one-way, all inclusive.
The new route expands service out of Edmonton, joining direct flights from Edmonton International Airport to Hamilton, Kamloops and Abbotsford.
NewLeaf Travel’s chief commercial officer, Dean Dacko, was proud to be launching Canada’s newest travel operator.
“Canadians have responded exceptionally well to our direct flights between destinations, and we are pleased to expand this service,” said Jim Young, NewLeaf’s chief executive officer.
NewLeaf is a privately-held Canadian company that provides leisure travellers with low fares and travel options that are unbundled and transparent. It operates out of smaller airports with lower landing fees, flies a simple point-to-point network with minimal time between flights and offers customers à la carte purchase of options such as carry-on and checked baggage, priority boarding and call centre assistance for a fee.
Upbeat, friendly and helpful NewLeaf staff greeted the passengers for the inaugural flight.
NewLeaf experienced teething issues earlier in 2016 when it temporarily postponed selling tickets, pending a Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) review of licensing regulations for indirect air service providers.
After refining the partnership arrangement with Flair Airlines, ticket sales resumed on June 23, 2016. NewLeaf is a reseller of air services from Flair and deemed not required to have its own air licence.
A celebratory cake, cupcakes and gifts awaited the inaugural flight’s passengers.
Kelowna-based Flair Airlines is a Canadian airline with operations in Kelowna, Calgary, Alta., and Hamilton. In business since 2003, it presently operates five Boeing 737-400s, all configured identically. Flair specializes in charter operations including sports teams, vacation charters and government flights. It also operates a single Embraer 175 for charters.
In the ramp up to the launch of NewLeaf operations a demonstration flight was carried out for invited guests from Hamilton to Winnipeg on July 22. Plans are to carry out 42 flights scheduled the first week, ramping up to 62 in the second week with introduction of the fall schedule.
Three Flair 737s will be implemented initially, with a fourth added in a month and a fifth in October. The winter schedule will be introduced Jan. 8, 2017. NewLeaf’s success could see more aircraft acquired to allow for expansion.
The check-in lineup for the inaugural flight was filled with enthusiastic travellers excited to be part of the NewLeaf inaugural event.
“We are so incredibly thrilled with how the Canadian travelling public has responded to our launch from coast to coast,” said Dean Dacko, NewLeaf’s chief commercial officer. “Some of our most heavily booked flights are from Eastern Canada. Almost every flight coming through Hamilton this week is 95 per cent full. This illustrates how Canadians have been anticipating an ultra low-cost carrier for travel in the country. Three of our first Hamilton to Winnipeg flights are virtually sold out!”
The check-in lineup for the inaugural flight was filled with enthusiastic travellers excited to be part of the launch of this new Canadian travel venture. All were keen to take advantage of NewLeaf’s motto: “Low fare. Here to there!”
