New low cost carrier opens in Vancouver, promising low airfares

Vancouverites and other western Canadians may soon have a new low-cost option for air travel that doesn’t require crossing the border. A group based in Vancouver is looking to launch a ultra-low cost carrier next year.

Canada Jetlines Ltd. is in the process of launching under the helm of aviation veterans Jim Scott and David Solloway.

If successful, this would be the first true low-cost commercial airline service in Canada. It will follow a similar model to other successful low cost carriers such as Allegiant Air and Spirit Airlines in the U.S. The initial plan is to fly all over Western Canada and ultimately have flights to tourist hotspots like Las Vegas, Cancun and many more. The price of a ticket to Prince George would come in at around $70 – approximately half the cost of existing carriers.

According to the National Post, Jetlines has already applied for a license to operate large aircraft in Canada and has negotiated landings in Vancouver and other key airports in Western Canada.

The plan is to launch with two Airbus A319s in the fall of 2014 and expand to 16 aircraft by 2017.

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