New Canadian airline startup NewLeaf Travel Co. has chosen Winnepeg as its base with plans to create 750 jobs in the city.
"One cannot under estimate the impact an airline head office can have on a host community. NewLeaf headquartering in Winnipeg will undoubtedly result in improved connectivity and provide a significant boost to the local economy," said Barry Rempel, CEO of Winnipeg Airports Authority.
"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,"
As a new low-budget airline NewLeaf plans to avoid high cost airport gateways like Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto and instead focus on under-served routes, owner Jim Young recently said.
The carrier plans to start daily non-stop flights from Winnipeg, Kelowna and Hamilton to several as yet unannounced Canadian and international destinations.
The airline is a joint venture between NewLeaf and Kelowna, BC based carrier Flair Airlines and will also offer vacation packages, including hotel stays and car rental.
NewLeaf, which uses the tagline ‘Turning the Page on Travel,’ promises ‘low fares that are unbundled and transparent, only paying for what you want and use, with no surprises.’
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