‘A tough industry’: Flair CEO puts expansion plans on hold amid debt, delivery delays

Flair CEO Stephen Jones says he's effectively suspending the budget airline's expansion plans for at least a year as it contends with plane delivery delays and hefty debts.

Flair CEO Stephen Jones says he's effectively suspending the budget airline's expansion plans for at least a year as it contends with plane delivery delays and hefty debts.

"This will be a more muted year," he said in an interview, "but we’ll look to get back into growth mode strongly in 2025.”

As recently as the fall, the Edmonton-based company aimed to boost its fleet to 26 Boeing 737 Max jetliners in 2024, up from its current roster of 20. On Monday, Jones said the fleet likely won't grow much in the coming year, due partly to hold-ups at Boeing Co.