Air Canada capping fares, adding 6,000+ seats to routes served by Lynx

On the heels of WestJet taking actions to assist stranded Lynx Air customers, Air Canada is also responding to the shutdown of one of Canada's ultra-low-cost carriers. 

Lynx announced an end to its flight operations on Thursday (Feb. 22), a move that will take effect 12:01 a.m. MT on Mon., Feb. 26, 2024.

In response, Air Canada says it will cap fares and add more than 6,000 seats in select markets operated by Lynx, according to a news release Friday (Feb. 23).

The measures are to provide Lynx customers affected by the shutdown options in the Economy cabin on Air Canada flights for travel within Canada, to the U.S. and to Cancun in Mexico so they can return home or make alternative travel arrangements for planned winter trips.

READ MORE: From “not surprised” to a “significant blow”: Agents, execs sound off on Lynx shutdown

Air Canada's fares will be available for purchase before Feb. 26 for travel through April 2, to cover the March Spring break periods across Canada and the Easter holiday period. 

All flights will be available for purchase at aircanada.com or through travel agents, said Air Canada.  

Air Canada noted that it will not be able to honour Lynx tickets and Lynx customers are advised to consult the Canadian Transportation Agency website.

Air Canada is also planning to add incremental capacity of more than 6,000 seats on Lynx routes from Toronto and Montreal to Cancun, Fort Myers, Orlando, Tampa, Phoenix and Las Vegas between February 25 and March 19. 

READ MORE: "Difficult news”: Lynx files for creditor protection, final flight set for Feb. 26

"However, with the busy winter travel holiday period underway, flights are already relatively full and the carrier's ability to increase capacity further is limited," said the airline. 

WestJet's previously announced offer is as follows: 

• All travel: 25 per cent discount, using the discount code WESTJET, on all economy cabin fares on non-stop WestJet routes previously served by Lynx, for travel between Feb. 22, 2024, and Oct. 26, 2024, booking to be made up until Feb. 29, 2024.
• Canadian repatriation for transborder and sun: Fares are capped at $250 plus taxes and fees on all northbound economy cabin fares, on non-stop WestJet routes previously served by Lynx, for travel up until Feb. 29, 2024, booking to be made before Feb. 29, 2024.
• All domestic fares on non-stop WestJet routes previously served by Lynx, for travel up until Feb. 29, 2024, will not exceed $500 plus taxes and fees.

All capped fares will be reflective on westjet.com on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. As well, all bookings are only available online through westjet.com.

Lynx passengers with existing bookings are being advised to contact their credit card company to secure refunds for pre-booked travel. (Lynx has posted an FAQ here).

Under pressure

Calling itself an “ultra-affordable airline,” Calgary-based Lynx entered the market in April of 2022 with a promise to improve customer service and grow the low-cost model in Canada.

Lynx's website listed 23 destinations, including most major Canadian cities and U.S. cities, such as Phoenix, San Francisco, Orlando and Tampa Bay.

The airline had nine Boeing 737 MAX 8 in service, with eight on order, plus 29 Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 on order, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company.

Financial pressures associated with inflation, fuel costs, exchange rates, the cost of capital, regulatory costs and “competitive tension” in the Canadian market were among the challenges that brought the company down, wrote Jim Sullivan, interim CEO of Lynx, in a company memo that was distributed yesterday.

The airline had nine Boeing 737 MAX 8 in service, with eight on order, plus 29 Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 on order, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company.

The Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) on Friday posted Compensation Fund guidance for Lynx customers. It can be found here.

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