REGINA - Lynx Air won’t be flying to Regina this June, or for that matter, to anywhere else.
The low cost airline announced Thursday is filing for bankruptcy protection and is a suspending operations effective at 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 26.
Regina Airport Authority had made the announcement earlier this year that Lynx Air was scheduled to provide three times a week direct flights between Regina and the cities of Vancouver and Toronto as of June 20. The airline had launched a seat sale with fares starting at $79 one way, including taxes a fees.
But after days of rumors about the airline’s future, including speculation that a merger was in the works between Lynx Air and Flair Airlines, Lynx Air is instead shutting down. The Calgary-based airline had been in business since 2022.
In a memo to staff posted on social media, the airline’s Chief Operating Officer Jim Sullivan stated “I know this is a terrible shock to many of you, and this was not how our story was intended to play out.”
“For the most part, we have been doing everything right over the past two years to build our brand, grow the company and expand to new markets and destinations. We've been part of a transformational time in the airline industry, having built the initial business case for this airline pre-COVID-19 pandemic and we surpassed expectations when travelers returned to the skies once travel restrictions were lifted. The compounding financial pressures associated with inflation, fuel costs, exchange rates, cost of capital, regulatory costs and competitive tension in the Canadian market have ultimately proven too steep a mountain for our organization to overcome.”
In a statement, federal Transport minister Pablo Rodriguez said he is “closely following Lynx Air’s announcement that they are filing for restructuring under the Companies Creditors Arrangement App. Lynx is expected to cease operations on Sunday, February 25. I’m thinking of the Canadian travellers and workers affected by this move, their families, and the communities across Canada, who will feel the impact of this. For any travellers that had a return flight booked with Lynx, I expect Lynx to help you back home as soon as possible. I expect Lynx to fully refund you if your fare won’t be honoured. My office has been in touch with Lynx, we will continue to communicate with all parties, and we’ve convened calls with other airlines to see how they can help, to ensure that passengers are put first.”
For those booked on Lynx Air, according to the airline's website, the airline is advising them to contact their credit card company and they will refund your flight. Lynx Air’s contact centre will not be available to assist with refunds. Those flying this weekend should check their flight status as the airline will fly through to Monday, Feb. 26. Travel vouchers and flight vouchers will no longer be accepted once Lynx ceases operations.
Rival airline WestJet, which provides several routes to and from Regina airport, has issued a statement in which they “recognize the immediate impact this information has on passengers and employees of Lynx.”
WestJet says it will be providing a 25 percent discount on all economy fares on nonstop routes previously served by Lynx between now and Oct. 26, with booking to be made up until Feb. 29. For international repatriation flights, fees 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.
