News
Tait named chairman of Flair Airlines
David Tait, who helped establish Virgin Atlantic Airways in the mid-1980s, joins budget carrier Flair Airlines, based in Kelowna, British Columbia, as executive chairman.
June 11, 2018 By Wings Staff
“Canadians have been denied the services of an independent, truly low cost, low fare carrier for way too long,” said Tait. “With Flair, I am excited to join another airline that, like we did with Virgin, can shake up the status quo with innovative, quality, friendly air service at consistently low fares and – most importantly – get more people out of their couches and into the air.”
A Canadian, Tait has worked with Wardair Canada in Toronto, Laker Airways in Toronto and Miami, Virgin Atlantic Airways in New York, and Air Canada in Montreal. Flair explains Tait in 1984 helped craft a business plan for what would become Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic Airways, becoming one the airline’s first employees.
Starting out with a single Boeing 747, Tait then spent the next 18 years as an executive VP and a director building Virgin Atlantic into what is seen today as one of the industry’s most innovative carriers.
In May of 2001, Tait was awarded as an Officer of The Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II for “Services to British Aviation in North America.” After leaving Virgin, he served as senior VP, customer service, for Air Canada.
“[David’s] expertise, deep industry knowledge and unique experience in successfully leveraging the advantages the little guy has in an industry dominated by relative Goliaths, will be invaluable,” said Jim Scott, CEO, Flair Airlines. “The only way to build the best airline in Canada is to have the best people – and David certainly falls into that category.”
In 2017, Flair transitioned into being a scheduled carrier. On June 15 of this year, Flair will more than double its present total of 90 flights per week with increased non-stop and direct connectivity throughout an expanded Canadian network that stretches from Halifax to Victoria.
