Flair Airlines could face challenges in executing growth after aircraft seizure

Canadian ultra-low cost carrier Flair and aircraft leasing management company Airborne are embroiled in a public dispute over Airborne's decision to seize four Boeing narrowbody aircraft from the airline. Airborne seized the Boeing aircraft - one 737-800 and three 737-8s - from Flair on 11-Mar-2023.

It is a highly unusual situation, and creates challenges for Flair as it scrambles to find aircraft to operate its planned schedule for the summer season in the Northern Hemisphere. Flair is examining ways to get alternative sources of capacity. Its CEO Stephen Jones said, "...but this is pretty short notice, and so it is more likely that we will need to trim some of the schedule to fit the available capacity".

Previously, Flair has said that it was planning to bolster capacity by 50% during the northern summer of 2023 and grow its fleet to 27 aircraft.

The controversy has resulted in Flair suing Airborne and the leasing company's lessor partners, and the situation could be a setback for Flair as it works to reach its short term and long term ambitions.