What's Flair like these days?

[vrromvroom]

With hiring starting again at Flair, wondering how it is to work for as a pilot? Hasn't been much posted about it in a few years, and I'm sure plenty has changed.

[co-joe]

This summer has been busy with solid loads. There are upgrades happening, I think 18 positions, and a huge wave of outside hiring for new FOs to cover expansion and attrition. Somewhere around 30-40 new FOs starting training this fall. The new contract made solid gains in pay and lifestyle, and most of us are happy with the direction Len Corrado is taking us. There's always hiccups, and challenges, but a great deal of positivity on the line from maintenance, and pilots.

[boeingboy]

Things are looking up I would say....

Mark my words - Flair is going to become Sunwing 2.0

[twa22]

Things are looking up I would say....

Mark my words - Flair is going to become Sunwing 2.0

As someone who has a rather secure 705 job, i'm seriously considering, Flair but my biggest concern is, the whole bankruptcy thing... I know there hasn't been much in the news lately and it's been rather smooth sailing for Flair, but there was always that concern, so I'm curious what people who currently work there think of that

[lostav8r]

This summer has been busy with solid loads. There are upgrades happening, I think 18 positions, and a huge wave of outside hiring for new FOs to cover expansion and attrition. Somewhere around 30-40 new FOs starting training this fall. The new contract made solid gains in pay and lifestyle, and most of us are happy with the direction Len Corrado is taking us. There's always hiccups, and challenges, but a great deal of positivity on the line from maintenance, and pilots.

Are they hiring instructors?

[safetyfirst123]

Flair can definitely chip away at the Ontario and Quebec vacation market. I wonder if Sunwing Vacations has an exclusivity agreement with Westjet, or perhaps Royalton Resorts flying their guests down.

[flying4dollars]

Things are looking up I would say....

Mark my words - Flair is going to become Sunwing 2.0

As someone who has a rather secure 705 job, i'm seriously considering, Flair but my biggest concern is, the whole bankruptcy thing... I know there hasn't been much in the news lately and it's been rather smooth sailing for Flair, but there was always that concern, so I'm curious what people who currently work there think of that

This has been a concern by everyone but Flair employees since 2018. 8 years later, still going strong. I wouldn't worry too much given they have survived the worst of days. It seems they have a solid footing in the niche they created and evolved into. Just my 2 cents.

[MaxAuto]

Flair can definitely chip away at the Ontario and Quebec vacation market. I wonder if Sunwing Vacations has an exclusivity agreement with Westjet, or perhaps Royalton Resorts flying their guests down.

Sunwing Vacations falls under Sunwing Group along with all the other former Sunwing brands and includeds WestJet Vacation and WestJet Vacation Quebec.

Steven Hunter is the chairman of Sunwing Group and it all falls under WestJet Group of companies. The Hunters still own the resort side of thing separately.

I'm sure you can book a package though other platforms and airlines.

[flyinhigh]

Things are looking up I would say....

Mark my words - Flair is going to become Sunwing 2.0

Careful. Sunwing 2.0 sounds lovely however even they struggled financially. If everything was roses for them they would not have sold out.

[twa22]

Things are looking up I would say....

Mark my words - Flair is going to become Sunwing 2.0

As someone who has a rather secure 705 job, i'm seriously considering, Flair but my biggest concern is, the whole bankruptcy thing... I know there hasn't been much in the news lately and it's been rather smooth sailing for Flair, but there was always that concern, so I'm curious what people who currently work there think of that

This has been a concern by everyone but Flair employees since 2018. 8 years later, still going strong. I wouldn't worry too much given they have survived the worst of days. It seems they have a solid footing in the niche they created and evolved into. Just my 2 cents.

Yea that's fair, thanks for your input!

[Inverted2]

Is it still mostly day or night turns (single day pairings)?

[safetyfirst123]

Things are looking up I would say....

Mark my words - Flair is going to become Sunwing 2.0

Careful. Sunwing 2.0 sounds lovely however even they struggled financially. If everything was roses for them they would not have sold out.

Westjet was sold out first, so what are you suggesting about Westjet?

[flyinhigh]

Westjet was sold out first, so what are you suggesting about Westjet?

Nothing. WJ was highly profitable and ONEX paid big for it and promptly drove it into the ground. My point on Sunwing is that the vacation market has very small margins which has resulted in many carriers having issues.

Not sure a company who has a history of struggles should be entering/focusing on a a market where struggles have taken carriers out (i.e, skyservice)

[safetyfirst123]

Westjet was sold out first, so what are you suggesting about Westjet?

Nothing. WJ was highly profitable and ONEX paid big for it and promptly drove it into the ground. My point on Sunwing is that the vacation market has very small margins which has resulted in many carriers having issues.

Not sure a company who has a history of struggles should be entering/focusing on a a market where struggles have taken carriers out (i.e, skyservice)

Onex clearly saw something in Sunwing, and Sunwing was consistently profitable. What is true is that Sunwing expanded a lot prior to Covid with hotels, which incidentally is where the margins are, but throw in being highly leveraged and then Covid lockdowns, and sure it will hurt the business.

Skyservice was a different model. One thing that hurt Skyservice was when TUI purchased 49% of Sunwing, and as a result Skyservice lost 50% of their business when TUI transferred their Canadian vacation flying over to Sunwing.