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Canada Jetlines adds former Frontier Airlines’ executive

Canada Jetlines is a new Vancouver-based ultra-low cost carrier that
aims to to take the skies next year and plans to target several
secondary and under-served markets in the West.

Vancouver’s Salman Partners is leading an effort to raise
$100-million in financing to help with the launch of the discount
airline, tentatively slated by the fall of 2014.

Mr. Young joins
Jetlines’ executive team after serving in several positions in the
aviation sector, including as vice-president and chief marketing officer
at the Denver-based low-cost carrier, Frontier Airlines.

He has also held various positions at Continental Airlines and Canadian Airlines, the company said.

Should
the airline raise the necessary funds for its launch, Mr. Young will
join Jim Scott, who will serve as Jetlines’ chief executive, as well as
David Solloway and Dix Lawson on the executive team.

Canada
Jetlines will be modeled after such successful ultra-low cost carriers
as Ireland’s Ryanair, Allegiant Air and Spirit Airlines in the U.S., and
Air Asia and Scoot Airlines in Asia, offering no-frills service for
lower prices than its competitors.

But getting the airline off the ground will not be without its challenges.

Gregg
Saretsky, WestJet Airlines Ltd. chief executive, said in an interview
with the Financial Post earlier this month it can expect some intense
competition from its larger rivals.

Canada Jetlines plans to use a
fleet of Airbus A319s and A320s to fly from Vancouver to several
secondary and under-served markets.

Mr. Saretsky said the
economics of those larger planes will not match the economics of
WestJet’s new regional carrier, Encore, and its fleet of Bombardier
Q400s.

“They clearly see an opportunity I don’t,” Mr. Saretsky
said. “We are Canada’s low fare airline and we’re going to compete
vigorously as we always have.”