Lynx Air Explained

Airline:Lynx Air
Fleet Size:9
Destinations:17
Aoc:15852
Iata:Y9
Icao:DAT
Callsign:DAUNTLESS
Commenced:
Headquarters:Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Key People:Merren McArthur (President & CEO)

Lynx Air, legally incorporated as 1263343 Alberta Inc., was a Canadian ultra-low-cost carrier based in Calgary, Alberta. It previously operated as Enerjet and was rebranded as Lynx Air on November 16, 2021. The first flight under the Lynx Air name took place on April 7, 2022, operating from Calgary International Airport to Vancouver International Airport.

On February 22, 2024, the airline announced it had entered creditor protection and ceased operations on February 26, 2024, at 12:01 AM Mountain Time.

History

Enerjet

Enerjet was originally formed in 2006 by a small group of entrepreneurs addressing what they perceived to be a gap in the service provided by Canada's major airlines, WestJet and Air Canada in "middle Canada".[1] It was initially known as New Air & Tours until October 20, 2008, when New Air & Tours revealed its name and corporate logo to be styled as Enerjet.[2] Enerjet was founded by nine individuals, including Tim Morgan, the former senior vice president of WestJet.[3] On November 28, 2008, Enerjet received an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) and Air Operator License issued by the Canadian Transportation Agency.[4] While the airline initially planned to launch as a scheduled low-cost carrier (LCC), the airline focused instead on charter operations involving the transport of employees of oil companies, such as for Suncor Energy, as well as ad-hoc charter services for Air Transat, deeming the leisure travel market to be competitive following the collapse of Zoom Airlines, as well as the presence of leisure carriers such as WestJet.[5]

By 2012, the airline was still seeking investment to expand into scheduled LCC operations, and had operated some flights between Calgary and Vancouver during peak holiday travel periods, with plans to expand the services to Kelowna and Edmonton.[6] In 2015, Enerjet signed an agreement to acquire 46 Boeing 737 Max 8s, 40 purchased and 6 leased.[7] By 2016, the airline had gone through two tentative names for its LCC project, consisting of Jet Naked and FlyToo.[8] In late 2018, the airline announced it had attracted investors in order to transition from chartered flights to scheduled operations, one of which included American private equity firm Indigo Partners, which had notably invested in other LCCs including Frontier Airlines, JetSmart, Volaris, and Wizz Air, and Enerjet subsequently planned to relaunch as an LCC during 2019.[9] The launch of the airline was delayed due to the grounding of the 737 Max 8 and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lynx Air

On November 16, 2021, the company revealed its new name as Lynx Air, with plans to begin flying in the first quarter of 2022.[10] During the announcement, the airline made commitments for up to 46 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft over the next seven years to meet the anticipated demand, with deliveries starting in early 2022, and that it would follow the low-cost carrier model for its operations.[11] The airline additionally announced it would initially operate domestic routes with plans to add international destinations later. On April 7, 2022, Lynx Air's first flights launched.[12] The airline announced its first international destinations on September 28, 2022, with flights to the United States beginning in early 2023.

On February 22, 2024, Lynx filed for creditor protection from the Court of King's Bench of Alberta and announced it would cease operations on February 26 due to financial issues,[13] [14] citing escalating costs and increased airport fees as contributing factors.[15] [16]

Management

Merren McArthur was the airline's president and chief executive officer (CEO). She announced her departure in June 2023, but remained in her role until September 2023 to allow the company time to find her replacement.[17] She previously served as CEO for both Tigerair Australia and Virgin Australia Regional Airlines, and founding CEO of Virgin Australia Cargo. Vijay Bathija was the airline's Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), with prior experience at Etihad Airways and Air Canada Rouge. James "Jim" Sullivan was the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the airline, who was formerly Vice President of Flight Operations at JetBlue.[18] Mike Woodward was the airline's Chief Financial Officer (CFO), with previous experience in the Energy and Banking Sector. Mike has previously served as the CFO of Campus Energy Partners and Vice President of BMO Capital Markets.

Destinations

Lynx Air flew (or planned to fly) to the following destinations by the time of its announced shutdown in February 2024. It does not include destinations solely operated to by charter flights, such as those under its previous Enerjet name.

Country CityAirportStart dateEnd dateNotesclass=unsortableRefs
CanadaCalgaryCalgary International AirportApril 7, 2022February 26, 2024[19]
CharlottetownCharlottetown AirportMay 30, 2024—[20]
EdmontonEdmonton International AirportJuly 14, 2022February 26, 2024[21]
FrederictonFredericton International AirportJune 12, 2023February 26, 2024[22]
HalifaxHalifax Stanfield International AirportJune 29, 2022February 26, 2024
HamiltonJohn C. Munro Hamilton International AirportJune 29, 2022February 26, 2024
KelownaKelowna International AirportApril 15, 2022February 26, 2024
MontrealMontréal–Trudeau International AirportJune 5, 2023February 26, 2024[23]
OttawaOttawa Macdonald–Cartier International AirportMay 17, 2024—[24]
Quebec CityQuébec City Jean Lesage International AirportJune 6, 2024—[25]
ReginaRegina International AirportJune 20, 2024—[26]
St. John'sSt. John's International AirportJune 28, 2022February 26, 2024[27]
TorontoToronto Pearson International AirportApril 11, 2022February 26, 2024[28]
VancouverVancouver International AirportApril 7, 2022February 26, 2024
VictoriaVictoria International AirportMay 12, 2022January 14, 2023[29] [30]
WinnipegWinnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International AirportApril 19, 2022February 26, 2024
MexicoCancúnCancún International AirportFebruary 15, 2024February 26, 2024[31]
United StatesBostonLogan International AirportMarch 28, 2024—[32]
Fort MyersSouthwest Florida International AirportDecember 14, 2023February 26, 2024[33]
Las VegasHarry Reid International AirportFebruary 24, 2023February 26, 2024
Los AngelesLos Angeles International AirportFebruary 16, 2023February 26, 2024
OrlandoOrlando International AirportJanuary 27, 2023February 26, 2024
PhoenixPhoenix Sky Harbor International AirportFebruary 7, 2023February 26, 2024
San FranciscoSan Francisco International AirportMay 3, 2024—
TampaTampa International AirportNovember 16, 2023February 26, 2024

Fleet

Current

At the time of shutdown, Lynx Air operated the following aircraft:

Lynx Air former fleet
AircraftUsedOrders[34] Passengers[35] Notes
Boeing 737 MAX 8818189All 8 aircraft disposed to WestJet.
Boeing 737 MAX 200 - 21TBANot delivered before shutdown.
Total839

Previous

As Enerjet, the airline previously operated the following aircraft:[36] [37]

Enerjet former fleet
AircraftTotalIntroducedRetiredNotes
Boeing 737-700720082017
Boeing 737-800120112011Leased from Transavia
120132014
de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter220182020
Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche120112012
Airbus A320-20012023 summer2023 summerLeased from Global Crossing Airlines

Fleet development

As Enerjet, the airline operated a fleet of Boeing 737-700 aircraft for its charter operations, with a single 737-800 leased from Transavia on occasion, before the 737-700s were retired by 2017. After retiring its 737-700s, Enerjet subsequently retained an inactive DHC-6 Twin Otter fleet in order to keep its AOC, while the airline underwent its subsequent transformation from chartered to scheduled operations in the coming years. When the airline eventually announced its rebranding as Lynx Air in November 2021, the airline announced that it had ordered 46 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft for delivery through 2028.[11] In March 2022, the airline announced it had ordered an additional 11 737 MAX 8s.[38]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Brent. Jang. Will Enerjet fly. The Globe and Mail. 2008-11-24.
  2. Web site: NewAir and Tours reveal new name, Enerjet!. 2008-11-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20161220230138/http://www.enerjet.ca/readarticle.php?id=12. 2016-12-20. dead.
  3. Web site: Enerjet airline set to launch in Canada. https://web.archive.org/web/20081022121151/http://www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=893438. dead. 2008-10-22. Financial Post.
  4. Enerjet Achieves Regulatory Approvals. Enerjet. 2008-12-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20161220230114/http://www.enerjet.ca/readarticle.php?id=14. 2016-12-20. dead.
  5. Web site: Canada's Enerjet further postpones plans for leisure flights. Sobie. Brendan. FlightGlobal. DVV Media Group. 2009-07-08. 2022-07-11.
  6. Web site: Charter airline Enerjet looks to offer public flights. CBC News. 2012-11-16. 2022-07-11.
  7. Web site: Woodward . Michael . Affidavit of Michael Woodward . Lynx Air CCBA Portal . FTI Consulting . 26 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240223072412/http://cfcanada.fticonsulting.com/lynxair/docs/Affidavit%20of%20Michael%20Woodward,%20sworn%20February%2022,%202024.pdf . 23 February 2024.
  8. Web site: Canada's Enerjet revises ULCC project name to FlyToo. ch-aviation. 2016-03-10. 2022-07-11.
  9. News: Charter flight company Enerjet plans to relaunch as ultra-low-cost carrier in 2019. Financial Post. 2018-12-20. 2022-07-11.
  10. Web site: Watch the sky. 2021-11-17. Lynx Air. https://web.archive.org/web/20211116175516/https://www.flylynx.com/. 2021-11-16.
  11. Web site: Stephenson. Amanda. 2021-11-16. New ultra-low-cost carrier, Lynx Air, will launch from Calgary. 2021-11-17. CP24. en.
  12. Web site: Canada's new low-cost airline Lynx Air launches operations. Klisaukaite. Vyte. AeroTime Hub. 2022-04-08. 2022-05-19.
  13. Web site: Lynx Air files for creditor protection, final flight scheduled for Feb. 26. Hunt. Stephen. CTV News. February 22, 2024. February 22, 2024.
  14. Web site: Dupis . Lily . Lynx Air to cease operations Monday, obtains creditor protection . CBC News.
  15. Web site: Lynx Air not the 1st low-cost airline to shut down. Why many have failed . Global News.
  16. Web site: Dee . Duncan . The demise of Lynx Air shows why low-cost carriers can’t succeed in Canada . The Globe and Mail . 19 August 2024 . 28 February 2024.
  17. Web site: 2023-06-29 . Lynx Air president and CEO Merren McArthur to step down in September. 2023-10-12. Global News . en.
  18. Lynx Air Appoints James "Jim" Sullivan as Chief Operating Officer (COO). CNW Group. 2022-10-18. 2023-10-31.
  19. Web site: Lynx Air To Serve Five Canadian Destinations. 2022-01-20. 2022-01-20. Casey. David. Routes. en-GB.
  20. Web site: Low-cost airline to offer flights between P.E.I. and Calgary starting in May. Brun. Stephen. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. January 9, 2024. January 9, 2024.
  21. Lynx Air announces major expansion out of Halifax. Lynx Air. Cision. May 10, 2022. July 4, 2022.
  22. Web site: Lynx Air Adds Fredericton to its Network. Financial Post. March 13, 2023. March 13, 2023.
  23. Web site: Budget airline Lynx Air adding Montreal to its network. Ray. Lillian. CTV News. March 8, 2023. March 9, 2023.
  24. Web site: Lynx Air adds Calgary – Ottawa service from May 2024. Liu. Jim. AeroRoutes. December 9, 2023. December 21, 2023.
  25. Web site: Lynx Air adds Quebec City-Calgary flights. The Gazette (Montreal). Postmedia Network. January 12, 2024. January 17, 2024.
  26. Web site: A new 'ultra low cost airline' is coming to Regina. Postley. Drew. CTV News. January 17, 2024. January 17, 2024.
  27. Web site: 'Ultra affordable' Lynx Air is expanding in the Toronto region . Silvestre . Irish Mae . 2022-03-17 . 2022-03-18 . Daily Hive News . en.
  28. Lynx Air Launches Inaugural Flight from Toronto to LA. Lynx Air. GlobeNewswire. August 23, 2023. December 22, 2023. Lynx recently established a pilot and cabin crew base in Toronto to support this growth.
  29. Lynx Air's network continues to bloom as it adds Victoria, BC as its sixth destination. February 15, 2022. GlobeNewswire News Room.
  30. Web site: Lynx Air NS24 Preliminary Service Changes – 05Nov23. Liu. Jim. AeroRoutes. November 5, 2023. December 21, 2023.
  31. Web site: Lynx Air schedules Cancun Feb 2024 launch. Liu. Jim. AeroRoutes. October 25, 2023. October 25, 2023.
  32. Web site: Lynx Air NS24 Network Additions – 19Dec23. Liu. Jim. AeroRoutes. December 20, 2023. December 21, 2023.
  33. Web site: Lynx Air to launch nine US services in 2H2023. CAPA. Informa Markets. July 3, 2023. July 5, 2023. subscription.
  34. Web site: Canada's Lynx Air secures permission for European flights. January 12, 2024. October 4, 2023.
  35. Web site: Lynx Air Fleet. November 7, 2023.
  36. Web site: Canadian Civil Aircraft Register Historical Search. Transport Canada. July 14, 2022.
  37. Web site: Enerjet Fleet Details and History. Planespotters.net. February 15, 2022.
  38. Web site: BOC Aviation buys 11 737 Max 8s headed to Canadian start-up Lynx. Waldron. Greg. FlightGlobal. DVV Media Group. 2022-03-02. 2022-05-19.

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