New 'ultra low-cost carrier' lands in Winnipeg

A new "ultra low-cost carrier"has chosen Winnipeg for its headquarters.

NewLeafTravel Company, which will begin flying this summer,promises"to bring affordability back to air and vacation travel within North America."

It will offernon-stop flights from its main bases inWinnipeg, Hamilton and Kelowna to multiple domestic and international destinations, it states in a press release.

"We focus our lower fares in 25 to 30 per cent below our competitors," said Jim Young, New Leaf Travel Company's CEO. "Of course we price it to the marketplace."

NewLeaf expects to create in excess of 750 new jobs in Winnipeg and ispartnering with Kelowna-based Flair Airlines, which owns and operates a fleet of Boeing 737-400 airplanes.

Flair will provide the aircraft, maintenance and crews while NewLeaf focuses onvacation packages, hotel accommodations, rental vehicles and entertainment.

"One cannot under estimate the impact an airline head office can have on a host community,"saidBarryRempel, president and CEO of Winnipeg Airports Authority.

"NewLeaf headquartering in Winnipeg will undoubtedly result in improved connectivity and provide a significant boost to the local economy.We welcome NewLeaf, their current and future employees, to the airport campus and look forward to working with them in providing services of benefit to the consumers in this market."

'Even if they do stay in the city, it's normally only a year'

Contessa Benson has been a travel agent in Winnipeg for 30 years and said she's seen a number of airlines come and go.

"As far as the situation is concerned, with a lot of them, even if they do stay in the city, it's normally only a year, because nobody supports them," she said.

Benson named Zoom Airlines, Jets Go, Canada 3000 and Greyhound Air as a few who couldn't make a go of it in the city.

She said there is some concern among travellers that new airlines can go under. Benson said a few clients over the years have had airlines buckle while they were on their trips so they had to find a new way home.

"There's always a scare factor with all the travel agents that have been in business for a long time," she said. "When it comes to a new airline, I do investigate and research and make sure they are legitimate."

Benson said introducing a charter is a good way to go for people who want to travel a short distance in a short time, "simply because there are a lot of people on budgets. Especially for families with children, it's very unaffordable to travel within Canada."