Lynx Air: Canada’s newest low-cost airline to launch out of Calgary

By Skies Magazine | November 16, 2021

Canada’s newest “ultra-affordable airline,” Lynx Air (Lynx) was announced on Nov. 16, 2021, during a press conference held at Calgary International Airport. The new ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) plans to offer “low fares, flexibility and choice.”

Lynx’s president and CEO, Merren McArthur, said the carrier has “created an ultra-affordable fare structure which is focused on simplicity, transparency, and choice. Our à la carte pricing will empower passengers to pick and pay for the services they want, so they can save money on the trip and spend where it counts – at their destination.”

To meet projected demand, McArthur said the airline would eventually operate a fleet of 46 brand-new Boeing 737 aircraft; firm orders and lease agreements are projected to take place over the next seven years. McArthur said the airline is expected to create roughly 450 jobs.

The Calgary-based carrier plans to announce routes and schedules soon. The first three Boeing 737s “featuring leading-edge, fuel-efficient technology” are scheduled for delivery in early 2022.

McArthur, previously CEO of Tigerair Australia, Virgin Australia Regional Airlines, and founding CEO of Virgin Australia Cargo, comes with a wealth of aviation experience, specifically in the ultra-low-cost market.

“We are excited to bring competition and choice to the Canadian aviation market at a time when Canadians are yearning for the opportunity to fly again, whether it be to see friends and family or to take a long-awaited holiday,” she said.

Lynx Air was previously branded as Enerjet — a charter airline company that worked primarily with oil sands businesses.

According to McArthur, the new name was chosen because the lynx “is a remarkable animal and uniquely Canadian in Canada. It’s courageous, it’s efficient, it’s adaptable, and it travels vast distances across this continent, which is exactly what we plan to be doing as an airline.”

Regarding the airline’s aircraft of choice, Brad McMullen, senior VP of sales, North America, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said: “Boeing’s newest 737 aircraft enables the lowest cost operation of any aircraft in its market segment, making it a great fit for Lynx Air’s ultra-low-cost business model.

“Passengers can feel confident in Lynx Air’s choice of modern fleet, knowing this latest generation of aircraft are designed to offer the greatest flexibility, reliability and efficiency in the single-aisle market.”

Information about flight reservations will be available soon. Further updates can be found at www.flylynx.com.