Flair Airlines planning to close Waterloo crew base, end international routes out of YKF
Big changes are coming to the Region of Waterloo International Airport.
In an email to CTV News Kitchener, Flair Airlines confirmed plans to close its crew base at the airport, YKF, as of Sept. 3.
'To build long-term resilience, we are expanding into new charter operations that bring stable, guaranteed revenue. This strategic shift requires us to reallocate aircraft and reduce our scheduled passenger service after the summer peak,' Eric Tanner, Flair Airlines Vice President of Commercial, said.
Flair said the change is not tied to any layoffs and inflight and maintenance teams will still have roles within the company as a maintenance base will still be running at the airport.
Flair said they remain the largest carrier at the airport and scheduled flights will take off as planned.
However, Flair Airlines confirmed they will be ending international routes out of YKF with the new allocation of their aircraft.
Currently, Flair's domestic flights include Calgary, Alta., Edmonton, Alta., Halifax, N.S., Abbotsford, B.C. and Vancouver, B.C.
Their international flights included Orlando, Fla. and two Mexican destinations: Cancun and Puerto Vallarta.
CTV News Kitchener has reached out to the Region of Waterloo, the owner and operator of the airport, and the Air Line Pilots Association, an organization that represents thousands of pilots in the United States and Canada, including pilots with Flair Airlines.
More to come.
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