Startup Canada Jetlines Receives Stage 1 Approval – What Does This Mean?
The startup ultra-low-cost carrier dubbing itself ‘the all-Canadian airline that is all about value’ announced on Thursday that it had received Stage 1 Licensing Approval from the Canadian Transport Agency (CTA). This puts the airline on the track to commence operations during the upcoming summer season of 2022.
Stage 1 approval means that the CTA that Canada Jetlines meets the regulation requirements regarding Canadian ownership and control. The airline’s Chief Executive Officer, Eddy Doyle, shared the following enthusiastic statement,
“I am very excited that Canada Jetlines has now received Canadian ownership and control approval and the Stage 1 determination from the CTA. We are now in the final stages of the licensing process, and I am confident we will satisfy the final requirements in time for a summer launch date.”
Two-stage verification
Stage 1 refers to the first step in a two-part certification process on the road to receiving an air service operating license. This first step requires the provision of information and documentation regarding the funding requirements for the startup and operation of an air service for a 90-day period.
Stage 2 requires the provision of evidence that the requisite funding is in place to finance the proposed air service. Canada Jetlines said Thursday it is advancing the completion of funding to satisfy the requirements of the second step.
First A320-200 arrived last month
Canada Jetlines plans to follow the business model of European low-cost airlines, operating out of smaller secondary airports where possible. The airline’s first Airbus A320 touched down at the Region of Waterloo International Airport, Ontario, on February 22 this year. The aircraft was flown from Shannon in Ireland, where it had undergone refurbishment. It will be registered C-GCJL and is leased from Jackson Square Aviation.
The new airline based out of Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) says that the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) application process with Transport Canada is proceeding as planned. It has thus far reached ‘significant milestones never before achieved by Canada Jetlines’.
Nearly a decade since founding
Canada Jetlines, now majority-owned by GlobalX Airlines, has been in the works for a long time without ever getting off the ground. The airline was founded in 2013, and over the years, it has reached several agreements with airports and published planned route maps. However, things are different this time around, management of the planned leisure carrier promises. The airline’s Chief Commercial Officer, Duncan Bureau, told PAX,
“I don’t think there’s been a better time in the last 20 years to start an airline and the reason for that is obviously there’s a tremendous amount of pent-up demand and so we know that Canadians are very eager to travel.”
Do you think this is the time Canada Jetlines finally makes it into the sky? Do you agree with its CCO that this is the best time to start a new airline? Leave a comment below and let us know.
Lead Sustainability Journalist – With a Masters in International Relations, Linnea has combined her love for current affairs with her passion for travel to become a key member of the Simple Flying team. With eight years’ experience in publishing and citations in publications such as CNN, Linnea brings a deep understanding of politics and future aviation tech to her stories. Based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.