Time to fly: Lynx celebrates inaugural flight from YYC to YVR

Ultra-affordable airline Lynx Air took to the skies on Thursday (April 7) with its inaugural flight from Calgary to Vancouver.  

Lynx operates a fleet of three brand-new Boeing 737 aircraft and will ramp up quickly over the coming weeks.

The airline’s next destination will be to Toronto, with its inaugural Calgary-Toronto flight taking off on Monday, April 11. 

It will add Kelowna to its network starting April 15, Winnipeg starting April 19 and Victoria starting May 12. 

The airline will add two more aircraft to its fleet in the coming months, allowing it to further expand its network in the lead up to summer, including flights to and from Hamilton, Halifax and St. John’s at the end of June and Edmonton at the end of July.  

READ MORE: International expansion? A plan for travel agents? “Everything’s on the table” says Lynx Air CEO

Lynx will be operating 148 flights per week coast to coast across Canada by this summer, which equates to more than 27,000 seats per week. One-way fares start from $39.

“We are super excited to be finally taking to the skies today, said Merren McArthur, CEO of Lynx.  “I would like to thank and congratulate the entire Lynx team for the effort and planning that has gone into today’s launch. Lynx is on a mission to make air travel accessible to all Canadians, with a transparent, à la carte pricing model which empowers passengers to pick and pay for the services they want, so they can save money on the trip and spend where it counts – at their destination.  Air fares have been too high for too long in Canada, and we aim to change that.”

Passengers on the inaugural flight were each given a Lynx-branded gift – an umbrella for the flight to Vancouver and sunglasses for the return flight to Calgary.  

The celebration continues with the launch of Lynx’s biggest sale yet, with up to 70 per cent off all routes starting April 7 through to 11:59 p.m. MT on April 10.  

READ MORE: “We want to grow the market”: Lynx Air to expand in the Toronto region

The sale is valid for travel between April 7 and June 28, 2022. For full sale details, visit FlyLynx.com.

Lynx has commitments in place to grow its fleet to 46 Boeing 737 aircraft over the next five to seven years. 

The airline currently employs 165 people and will grow its workforce to more than 400 by the end of the year.

PAX recently interviewed Lynx Air CEO Merren McArthur to learn more about the airline's strategy for both the domestic and international markets, including a possible plan for travel advisors.  Click here to read the story. 

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