Entrepreneurs seeking to launch a western discount carrier say their recipe to woo budget-minded travellers will start with two planes in the summer of 2014.
Canada Jetlines Ltd. describes its proposal to open an ultra low-cost carrier as a strategy to meet demand from bargain hunters turned off by higher fares charged by Air Canada and WestJet Airlines Ltd.
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Jetlines said in a 48-page presentation to prospective investors that it wants to “fill aircraft with passengers with lower airfares, and increase profits from ancillary revenues” such as fees for everything from carry-on luggage to extra charges for roomier seats. Initial plans call for the introduction of two Airbus A319 narrow-body jets next summer in Western Canada, then expanding to a total of 16 planes by early 2017.
Robson Capital Markets Advisory is helping with efforts to attract $1-million in seed money, followed by plans to raise $25-million in financing in co-ordination with Salman Partners Inc. and others. Jetlines’ advisers hope to embark on a further three stages to raise $25-million in each round.
The fledgling carrier’s backers say that having $101-million in syndicated financing will solidify long-term plans. Aviation consultant Jim Scott is the founder and president of Vancouver-based Jetlines. Other members of the five-person executive team include David Solloway, formerly with Oasis Hong Kong Airlines Ltd., which offered service between Vancouver and Hong Kong for less than 10 months, before halting flights in 2008.
Jetlines will face major challenges to carve out a niche in the Western Canadian travel market, said Jacques Kavafian, a former airline industry analyst who shelved ambitious plans in 2011 to sell Canadian holiday packages to Japanese visitors.
But Jetlines said its in a six-page briefing note that its hub at Vancouver International Airport would allow it to pursue what it views as under-served markets in the West. Jetlines noted that its route network would include places such as Vancouver; Nanaimo, B.C.; Red Deer, Alta.; and Saskatoon, to name a few.
The Canadian Transportation Agency said it is reviewing Jetlines’ application for a domestic licence.
Sid Fattedad, a former executive at Canadian Airlines International, serves as chairman of Jetlines’ four-member board of directors.
温哥华一批商人有意推出超低价航空公司，希望明年秋季能够启航，首攻加拿大西部航线市场。
据《金融邮报》(Financial Post)报道，3名温哥华商人Jim Scott、David Solloway 及 Dix Lawson有意仿效世界上一批超低价航空公司的营运手法，在加拿大设立「加拿大喷射航空公司」(Canada Jetlines Ltd，意译)，推出类似的特廉航班，争取其他航空公司没有照顾到的客源。
根据这批商人最近在推介会上透露出来的资讯，假若成功，公司计划在明年秋季首航，第一阶段专攻加拿大西部航线市场，其後可能拓展到一些受欢迎的国际目的地，包括美国赌城拉斯维加斯(Las Vegas)，及墨西哥度假胜地Cancun及Cabo San Lucas。
据悉公司目前正计划筹集1.26亿元资金，首先以两架Airbus A319飞机推出服务，并计划将机队扩充到16架飞机，包括A319s及A320s两款型号的飞机。
该公司的主要营运方针是提供特别廉价的机票。据公司的构想，飞往乔治太子市(Prince George)将只需70元，目前市面最廉宜的机票价格是该价位的双倍。除此之外，这些航班的特色是只提供最基本的服务，是一种省略所有花巧的待客模式。
但分析家指出，加拿大先前也曾有数家新航空公司打入市场，但成绩参差，只有Porter Airlines依赖多伦多岛(Toronto Island)的稳定客源而得以生存，其馀大多数新公司最後均未能长期支撑下去。另一方面，包机公司Enerjet也有可能打入低价航班市场，而估计现有大型航空公司也会采用一切手段，将新竞争对手挤出市场。
据一份参议院委员会的研究报告，每年加国有480万人选择去美国搭飞机，当中有95.3万人来自低陆平原。在加拿大登机的票价，比在美国登机平均高428元，而税务是其中一个主要原因。
在加国，各种税项及收费为机票成本增加了60%至75%，而美国的税务及收费只为机票成本增加10%至18%。
新廉航公司 拟在温开航
看准目前市场上仍有低廉价格机票的发展空间，一家名为加捷（Canada Jetlines）的航空公司正在摩拳擦掌，筹备以温哥华为基地，预定明年秋季开办卑诗省航线，服务加西空中旅客。
事实上，这家总部设在温市中心的航空公司，从2012年8月已开始进入筹备阶段，据合夥人之一的索洛威（David Solloway）称，迄今已筹集超过1亿元资金，计画明年秋天以两架飞机首航卑省内陆航线，然後逐步扩张。
加捷航空宣称，将来启航後将主打廉价机票攻势。目前加拿大航空（Air Canada）和西捷（WestJet）航空两家公司，从温市飞乔治王子市的机票为144元，该公司宣称同样航线拟推出72元超便宜机票。