News of two of Canada’s Ultra Low Cost Carriers being in merger talks is starting to make waves the Canadian media. There are numerous report of Flair Airlines and Lynx Air being in discussion to merge in to one airline under the Flair brand.
It appears Brian Summers, who is a very well known industry journalist and founder of the Airline Observer was the first to report this last week and this has now been followed up with an article in the Toronto Star citing more sources that the two airlines are having discussions. The Toronto Star’s source go so far to even state the announcement of a merger could be made as early today.
In some ways this could be considered good news even though it would mean less competition. Airlines, especially low cost or ultra cost airlines have always struggled in Canada. From the likes of Greyhound Air to CanJet to JetsGo – they have all tried and failed. And there is always some rumours of at least one if not more of the current batch of competitors, Flair, Jetlines and Lynx failing. Flair has had their fair share of news that further feeds those rumours from planes being seized to having $67 million owing in unpaid taxes and so forth.
So if merging means one strong profitable ULCC to remain a viable competitor in our market rather than two that could be on the brink (TBH we actually don’t know if Lynx is), then this could be a good thing.
And maybe instead of operating under the Flair banner they could combine and rebrand as Flynx 😉
Stay tuned for more news as it develops!