NewLeaf bypassing travel community

Canadian budget carrier NewLeaf Travel does not intend to use booking sites or travel agents to sell flight tickets in an effort to “keep costs down,” according to the start-up airline’s website.

During media events at NewLeaf's headquarters at Winnipeg's Richardson International Airport, as well as Kelowna, BC and Hamilton, Ontario (the airline's two other main centres of operation), NewLeaf revealed that non-stop flights will be available to seven cities including Halifax, Hamilton, Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Kelowna and Abbotsford, and that fares will start at $89.

As a result of offering such low rates, travellers looking to book must utilize the airline’s website which states that “to keep costs down, we sell directly to the customer and a small number of exclusive partners.”

Flights booked through NewLeaf Travel will be operated by Flair Airlines Ltd., a Canadian-­based airline in that operates Boeing 737-­‐400 passenger jets.

As part of the low-cost model NewLeaf Travel passengers will be required to pay fees for, among other things: priority boarding, on-­board drinks, snacks, checked luggage, and for the first time in Canada, carry-on baggage.

More information is available at www.flynewleaf.ca.

For the full press release, click here.

NewLeaf was unavailable to comment prior to deadline.