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Flair Airlines has announced the appointment of three new executive leaders, with Eric Tanner stepping into the role of Chief Commercial Officer. In a recent interview on the Time On The Wing podcast, Tanner discussed his perspective on the ultra-low-cost-carrier (ULCC) model in North America. He stated that the ULCC approach does not align with Flair's strategy and questioned its effectiveness in the region.
Tanner, who previously managed revenue and network planning at Flair, highlighted that Flair’s aircraft seat configurations are similar to those of WestJet and that its baggage policies resemble Porter Airlines. He also pointed out that WestJet has introduced an “Ultra Basic” fare to compete with Flair’s pricing. According to Tanner, competition among Canadian airlines is more intense than what European carriers such as Ryanair experience, which he believes raises service standards for passengers beyond what is offered by U.S.-based ULCCs like Spirit or Frontier.
Flair no longer markets itself as a ULCC but continues to position itself as Canada’s low-cost leader. Tanner wrote in a Linkedin post: “As Canada’s only affordable airline left, Flair Airlines plays an essential role in keeping air travel affordable. We are excited to work with stakeholders across the industry to lower prices for our shared customers.”
