Latest news with #FlairAirlines
CBC
3 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Flair Airlines to close crew base at Waterloo region's airport, will still fly in and out of YKF
Social Sharing Flair Airlines will close its crew base at the Region of Waterloo International Airport this fall but says it will continue to operate scheduled flights to this community. In a statement to CBC News, Flair's vice president of commercial, Eric Tanner, said the airline is currently taking "proactive steps to strengthen its business in the face of ongoing macroeconomic pressures." The crew base will close on Sept. 3. The base is similar to an office located at the airport where pilots and flight attendants would begin and end their shifts. "Flair remains the largest carrier at YKF [the airport code for Region of Waterloo International Airport] and will continue to operate scheduled flights in and out of the airport," Tanner's statement said. "The closure of YKF's crew base is not tied to any layoffs. Our inflight and maintenance teams will still have roles within Flair. Our maintenance base will remain vital and operational in YKF." The airline plans to expand into new charter operations that will "bring stable, guaranteed revenue." Tanner said the "strategic shift requires us to reallocate aircraft and reduce our scheduled passenger service after the summer peak." CBC News has reached out to the Region of Waterloo for comment on the closure of Flair's crew base. Flair first signed a deal with the region to fly out of YKF in February 2021. But the airline saw staff shortages and cancelled flights in 2022. In January 2023, the airline cancelled service to Montreal from the region and in March of the same year, the airline had four leased Boeing 737s seized — including one at the region's airport — over a commercial dispute. In April 2023, Flair Airlines told local media it planned to ramp up service to Waterloo region, but the increase would be slower than they had initially planned. But the airline also helped the Region of Waterloo International Airport reach a record number of passengers in 2023 and 2024. In January, the region said 523,210 passengers travelled through the airport in 2024 for a 17.9 per cent increase over 2023. Some of that has also included passengers for WestJet flights and people who check-in for Air Canada flights in Waterloo region before taking a designated bus to Toronto's Pearson airport.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
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.
CTV News
7 days ago
- CTV News
Ontario woman forced to buy new airline ticket due to name discrepancy
Cathy Rea and her husband Paul in the Yukon in August 2024. (Source: Cathy Rea) When Cathy Rea realized the name on her boarding pass did not match the one on her passport, she knew it was going to be a problem at the airport. Rea, whose legal name is Catherine, was returning home to Breslau, Ont. after an Alaskan cruise in August 2024. She and her husband, Paul, took the trip to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. Cathy Rea Catherine Paul Yukon A sign that reads 'Welcome to Alaska' taken by Cathy Rea in August 2024. (Source: Cathy Rea) The couple's friend and travel companion handled the booking. 'Previously we traveled with them and there was no problem with the purchasing of the tickets,' Rea said. The group of five travelled, without a hitch, to Alaska. When she received her boarding pass for her return flight from Vancouver to Kitchener-Waterloo, however, she noticed the name discrepancy. Cathy Rea Catherine Paul Yukon Cathy Rea (sitting at centre) with her travel group in August 2024. (Source: Cathy Rea) 'We arrived at the airport seven hours ahead of time just to make sure that we could deal with the situation,' Rea said. A representative from Flair Airlines was the one who told her she wouldn't be able to board for her flight home. 'I asked her if I could change my name by paying a fee, and she said, 'No, that's not possible because it's less than 72 hours before your departure,'' Rea recalled. 'I said, 'Well then, what's my alternative? What am I going to do?' And she said, 'You can purchase a new ticket.'' Wanting to get home, she bought a new ticket as 'Catherine Rea' for around $753. She claimed she was issued the exact same seat assigned to 'Cathy Rea.' 'My question is, why? They can't have it both ways,' Rea insisted. 'I can't be Cathy Rea, and I can't just be Catherine Rea. I'm one and the same person.' Cathy Rea Catherine Paul Yukon Cathy Rea in front of a waterfall in August 2024. (Source: Cathy Rea) Rea reached out to CTV News after she saw our story about another traveler who went through a similar experience, but was able to change the name on his boarding pass for less than $100. 'When he was able to change his name that same day, that same instance, and not have to wait and purchase another ticket, I found that was a little strange,' Rea explained. 'Because if you can do it for one, why can't you do it for another?' According to Flair Airlines, it was not part of their policy back in August. 'At that time, Flair did not offer name change services at the airport or on the day of travel,' Eric Tanner, Flair's vice-president of commercial, said in a statement to CTV News. 'Any updates to a passenger's name, including corrections from 'Cathy' to 'Catherine,' needed to be made through our call centre more than 72 hours in advance of the scheduled departure.' It continued: 'Because the name on the boarding pass didn't match the customer's government-issued ID, and the window for making changes had passed, our airport team unfortunately couldn't proceed with check-in. The only available option at that point was for the customer to purchase a new ticket under the correct name.' Rea said she filed a complaint with the Canadian Transport Association but is still waiting for a decision. Cathy Rea Catherine Paul Yukon Cathy Rea and her husband Paul in August 2024. (Source: Cathy Rea) 'Be very careful when you're booking things to make sure all your documentation is the same,' Rea warned. 'Double check and check over and over again, because you don't want to have to pay for something that was a small mistake. A small, innocent error.' Name policy is a 'global security standard', say travel experts While mismatched names may seem like a minor issue, travel experts say it could have major – and costly – consequences. 'They're not a hidden fee,' explained travel professional Sandy Willett. 'Every airline will charge you or deny you boarding… it's just a known rule that's been there forever.' The main reason for the rule is security. 'They want to make sure that that is the actual person boarding the plane,' Willett said. 'Sometimes, some airlines will check backgrounds on people. That's another reason they want to make sure that that name isn't flagged as something that could be an issue.' While every airline has a different policy, the rule typically remains the same. 'Some airlines are more flexible than others,' explained Amra Durakovic, a spokesperson for the Flight Centre Travel Group. She noted the various policies can make it harder for travellers, especially those who opt for lower airfare options. 'If [Rea] was on Flair Airlines, I would imagine, as it is a low-cost carrier, there's fewer options for changes,' Durakovic said. For those who find themselves in a similar position, travel experts recommend contacting the airline or the third-party they booked with ahead of departure day.
Los Angeles Times
13-04-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Oh, Canada, wait! Tourists, dollars are fleeing Palm Springs due to Trump provocations
Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. It's Sunday. I'm your host, Andrew J. Campa. Here's what you need to know: They had planned vacations, winter hideaways stays, music festival adventures and trips to meet friends. One by one, these Canadian travelers, snowbirds and short-time visitors, all canceled their travel to Palm Springs. While the reasons for visiting the desert oasis varied, the cause of the stoppage was clear: Canadians felt disrespected enough by the Trump administration that they voiced their disapproval with their dollars. But their salvo against the second-term president didn't hit him. Rather the Maple boycott has hammered the LGBTQ+ friendly Palm Springs community of workers, restaurants and business owners dependent on Canadian tourism. Now Palm Springs is scrambling, trying to survive this economic downturn while anticipating harsher and bleaker vacation seasons ahead. My colleague Hailey Branson-Potts wrote about the situation in depth, including where the parties stand and what the future may look like. What's driving Canadians away? Trump has belittled Canada by calling it America's '51st state.' He repeatedly mocked former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as 'governor.' He has also threatened to use 'economic force' to annex the 40-million-person country. Trump in February invoked emergency powers to justify stiff new tariffs on Canadian imports. He argued that the trafficking of illegal drugs — namely, fentanyl — across the northern border compromised American security. After Trump's separate 25% tariff on imported automobiles went into effect last week, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who called the levies a 'direct attack,' slapped a 25% retaliatory levy on vehicles imported from the United States. Canadians spending habits are changing The Canadian air carriers Flair Airlines and WestJet ended their seasonal service between Vancouver and Winnipeg to Palm Springs International Airport earlier than planned this spring, airport spokesman Jake Ingrassia said in a statement to The Times. 'The airlines have advised the airport that these adjustments are in response to the current operating environment and shifts in demand,' Ingrassia said. Kenny Cassady, director of business development for Acme House Co., which manages vacation rental properties in Palm Springs, said Canadians often book stays of one to three months a full year in advance. 'But when it comes to rebooking for next year? They're just declining,' said Cassady. 'It's going to be most noticeable come next season. It could have a ripple effect beyond guests not booking to come back and spending rental dollars. If they're not here, they're also not going to restaurants and buying other services.' Laura Mezzacapo, accounting manager for the Vancouver-based travel agency the Travel Group, said that at this time of year, travel agents with her company would be busy booking spring break and summer vacations to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Palm Springs. But since mid-February, U.S. bookings have plummeted. Corporate bookings, she said, are down 70% to 80%. And instead of vacations in the American West, clients are opting for Mexico. 'We feel disrespected,' she said of Canadians. 'We've been your biggest ally. We've fought wars with you. We took your planes on 9/11. We love traveling to your country. We buy your products. And then you treat us like you don't need us for anything?' What the numbers say A 2021 study done for Visit Greater Palm Springs found that Canadians owned 7% of second homes in the Coachella Valley, far more than any other country outside the United States. Another study, in 2017, found that roughly 303,600 Canadians visited the Coachella Valley that year, spending more than $236 million. How has Palm Springs reacted? Last week, the city of Palm Springs hung red streetlight banners in its downtown business district proclaiming 'Palm Springs ♥ Canada.' And Mayor Ron deHarte said city officials are anxiously monitoring sales tax and hotel occupancy figures. Now that the peak snowbird season — roughly January through April — is wrapping up, he said, there is growing concern about the wave of cancellations for next winter. 'If this is something that lasts for a long time, we have to start working today to counter any negatives that may be coming from actions in Washington, D.C.,' DeHarte said. 'Is it concerning? Certainly. Canada is consistently our number one travel source.' For more on the situation, please check out the full story. Deportations and border control Trump administration policies and reactions Los Angeles fires and recovery Crime, courts and policing More big stories Get unlimited access to the Los Angeles Times. Subscribe here. Column One is The Times' home for narrative and long-form journalism. Here's a great piece from this past week: Benito Flores has parked his battered, pale yellow Dodge Ram van on the narrow street in El Sereno outside his one-bedroom duplex. A retired welder, Flores lived and worked out of the van for 14 years before joining an audacious protest against homelessness in Los Angeles in spring 2020. Flores was among a dozen individuals and families who seized state-owned homes that had been left empty and rotting for decades in El Sereno after they'd been acquired for a freeway expansion that failed. Following a public outcry and months of negotiations, Flores and the others, a group who called themselves 'Reclaiming Our Homes,' were allowed to stay in the houses temporarily. But no more. More great reads How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@ Going out Staying in Get wrapped up in tantalizing stories about dating, relationships and marriage. She was convinced by friends to try online dating after a few years of widowhood. At first, most of her suitors wanted a much younger woman. Frustrated, she canceled her profile, but not before one last email from a man named Carlo. They met up for a drink and he seemed so different than every other man who had reached out. Would Carlo prove to be the Hail Mary catch she had hoped for? Have a great weekend, from the Essential California team Andrew J. Campa, reporterMonte Morin, assistant managing editor Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tariff tensions seemingly throttling air travel from Canada — why that might upend the entire US economy
The tariff tensions between the U.S. and Canada seem to have an unintended effect on traveler sentiment. Specifically, air travel seems to have drastically decreased between the two countries. I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Trade war tensions between the two countries have been escalating since President Donald Trump initially announced his plans for tariffs on both Canada and Mexico back in February. And the president's quips about turning Canada into the country's 51st state certainly haven't helped ease tensions. Though it may not be directly linked, a report from flight analytics company OAG aviation projects a steep decline in flights from Canada to the U.S. Many of these could have been for snowbirds, or those who travel to warmer weather during the winter months. Florida's tourism industry association estimated that 3.3 million Canadians visited the state in 2024. As Canadians continue to express disappointment over Trump's tariffs strategy, some analysts are left wondering how much further will this number might drop this year. According to the same OAG report, bookings for flights between the two countries have fallen by 70% from the same time the year before. Airlines have responded to the lower demand by cutting around 320,000 scheduled seats worth of flights between the U.S. and Canada from March to October. The biggest cuts seem to be during the peak summer months of July and August, with airlines slashing capacity as much as 3.5%. Reporting from CBS News showed that some Canadian airlines may be cutting out some routes to the U.S. altogether, like the budget airline Flair Airlines. Some routes it cut out in March include Calgary to Las Vegas, Edmonton to Las Vegas, and Toronto to Nashville. Air Canada has said that flight books between the two countries have fallen by 10%. During an earnings call in February, the airline announced that it will reduce flights to Arizona, Las Vegas and Florida. Less flight availability could mean that prices may go up for certain routes. Alternatively, you could see discounts thanks to reduced demand from Canadians. When local Buffalo news outlet WKBW spoke with Michael and Carol Gilgunn on their journey back from Sarasota, they mentioned that many of their Canadian friends were nervous about visiting the U.S. Read more: The US stock market's 'fear gauge' has exploded — but this 1 'shockproof' asset is up 14% and helping American retirees stay calm. Here's how to own it ASAP They've been traveling to Florida over the last 15 years and told the news outlet this is the first they've noticed Canadians outright refusing to travel over the U.S.-Canada political climate. For now, the airlines may be nervous about how fewer snowbirds or other travelers could impact travel moving forward. Considering Canadian tourists are the one of the top spenders in the U.S., fewer of them spending those tourism dollars in the U.S. could have a massive impact on the economy. A press release from the U.S. Travel Association, shared that 20.4 million Canadians visited the U.S. in 2024, helping to support 140,000 American jobs and generated $20.5 billion in spending. Fewer tourists could be a drastic drop in revenue and could lead to job losses. Businesses that might be affected include those in food and beverage, transportation and hotel industries. Other retailers like clothing stores and tour operators may also see a drop, since tourists may purchase items to bring home with them. Afar reports that data from the National Tour Association (NTA) shows a 10% cut in travelers from Canada could translate into 2 million fewer visits, 14,000 job losses and $2.1 billion in lost spending. A March NTA survey survey of its U.S. members found that 53% already said that they'd lost bookings, business or visits from Canada. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
