WestJet, Air Canada slice fares after Lynx Air announces shut down

Lynx Air, an ultra low-cost Canadian airline that launched in April 2022, has made the difficult decision to cease operations.

“Tremendous effort was put into the launch, growth and expansion of Lynx Air over the past two years, offering a low-cost, seamless travel experience for Canadians,” the airline shared in a post on Feb. 22 via X. “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.”

The statement continued: “It is with a heavy heart we announce our departure from the skies. We hope in our absence that our vision to inspire more Canadians to fly leaves its mark on our passengers.”

WestJet weighs in

In a statement released on Feb. 22, WestJet announced that it “is aware that Lynx Air has initiated CCAA proceedings and the resulting news that Lynx intends to cease operations at 12:01 a.m. MT on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024.”

We recognize the immediate impact this information has on passengers and employees of Lynx, and we are committed to assisting where we can through a number of actions:

• All travel: 25% discount, by using discount code WESTJET, on all economy cabin fares on non-stop WestJet routes previously served by Lynx, for travel between February 22, 2024, and October 26, 2024, booking to be made up until February 29, 2024.
• Canadian repatriation for transborder and sun: Fares 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 February 29, 2024, booking to be made before February 29, 2024*.
• All domestic fares on non-stop WestJet routes previously served by Lynx, for travel up until February 29, 2024, will not exceed $500 plus taxes and fees*.

All bookings should be made online through westjet.com. WestJet has managed pricing to ensure fares reflect a reduction from what would typically be charged.

We are communicating closely with government officials and supporting agencies that are also working to address the needs of those impacted.

*All capped fares will be reflective on westjet.com on Friday, February 23, 2024

Air Canada announces fare decrease

On Feb. 23, Air Canada announced that it would also cap fares and add more than 6,000 seats in select markets operated by Lynx Air in response to the airline’s announcement that it is suspending operations beginning Feb. 26, 2024.

The measures are to provide Lynx Air customers affected by the carrier’s shutdown affordable options in the Economy cabin on Air Canada flights for travel within Canada, to the U.S. and to Cancun in Mexico so they can return home or make alternative travel arrangements for planned winter trips.

These fares will be available for purchase before Feb. 26 for travel through April 2, to cover the March spring break periods across Canada and the Easter holiday period. All flights will be available for purchase at aircanada.com or through travel agents.

Air Canada will not be able to honour Lynx Air tickets and Lynx Air customers are advised to consult the Canadian Transportation Agency website.

Air Canada is also planning to add incremental capacity of more than 6,000 seats on Lynx routes from Toronto and Montreal to Cancun, Fort Myers, Orlando, Tampa. Phoenix and Las Vegas between February 25 and March 19.

However, with the busy winter travel holiday period underway, flights are already relatively full and the carrier’s ability to increase capacity further is limited.