LINK TO VIDEO ASSET: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c2c4ca5f-be72-4fdf-8412-6d076d8dd6bd
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 25, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canada Jetlines Ltd. (JET: TSX-V; JETMF: OTCQB) (the “Company” or “Jetlines”), the first ultra-low-fare carrier in Canada has staged a protest in the one place the airline duopoly think they own: the sky. Using four planes, 18 skydivers and the Jetlines CEO, an airborne protest was staged to call out the lack of Canadian airline competition. This act was to rally Canadians, investors and the Competition Bureau around the idea of increased competition and decreased airfares.
The ultra-low-fare carrier is encouraging people to go to Jetlines’s website fightback.jetlines.ca/ and sign an online petition that will be presented to the Canadian Competition Bureau, the government agency that ensures markets operate in a competitive manner to prevent abusive monopolistic practices. While several airlines have attempted to enter the Canadian market, the duopoly has pushed them out with short-term match-pricing at prices below their avoidable costs. Thus far, Canada’s Competition Bureau has done little to rectify this issue. The Competition Bureau is currently investigating WestJet and their subsidiary new airline for “predatory pricing” to undercut new entrants. Under Canada’s competition laws, predatory pricing occurs when an incumbent with market power sets its prices below avoidable costs.
“Canadians pay among the highest airfares in the world and we’re the only developed country without an ULCC as two high cost airlines control approximately 85% of the domestic market,” says Javier Suarez, CEO for Jetlines. “We know Canadians are fed up as there are between five and six million passenger trips per year by land over to the US each year to fly on US low cost carriers, based out of northern US airports, that in many cases only operate from those airports due to the robust Canadian passenger traffic. We’re urging consumers to go online and to show their support for more competition and lower fares in Canada.”
The entrance of Jetlines has the potential to dramatically reduce airfares for Canadians on a long-term, sustainable basis. In just two decades, the ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) model has proven to be highly profitable and successful throughout the world. They generate economic growth but most importantly, they give consumers the freedom to travel more often. While more of these airlines are taking off, Canada has not tapped into the high demand for this kind of travel due to the anti-competitive environment of the existing Canadian duopoly. As a consequence, there is a lack of competition, that drives up prices, making consumers suffer.
Jetlines is a publicly traded company, backed by a management team and board of directors with extensive experience in the low-cost airline industry. Jetlines expect to launch operations before the end of this year. The launch of airline operations is subject to receipt of regulatory approvals and completion of the remaining financing.
About Canada Jetlines Ltd.
Canada Jetlines is set to become Canada’s first true Ultra-Low Cost Carrier (ULCC) airline, with plans to operate flights across Canada and provide non-stop service from Canada to the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. The Company plans to commence operations with the Airbus A320 fleet, the most widely used aircraft for ultra-low cost carriers worldwide. Jetlines is led by a board and management team with extensive experience and expertise in low-cost airlines, start-ups and capital markets. The Company was granted an unprecedented exemption from the Government of Canada that will permit it to conduct domestic air services while having up to 49% foreign voting interests.
Jetlines ability to sell tickets and launch airline service remains subject to the completion of the airline licensing process, the receipt of applicable regulatory approvals and the completion of financing.
For more information on Jetlines, please visit our website at www.jetlines.com.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
"Mark J. Morabito"
Executive Chairman
Canada Jetlines is part of the King & Bay group of companies. King & Bay is a merchant bank that specializes in identifying, funding, developing and supporting growth opportunities in the resource, aviation, and technology sectors.
For more information, please contact:
Toll Free: 1-833-226-5387
Email: investor.relations@jetlines.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" concerning anticipated developments and events that may occur in the future. Forward-looking information contained in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to (i) the commencement of operations and the success of expected future operations of the Company; (ii) Jetlines ability to obtain ultra-low costs; (iii) the routes that Jetlines intends to service; and (iv) Jetlines ability to offer the lowest airfares in Canada.
In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the receipt of financing to commence airline operations, the accuracy, reliability and success of the Jetlines’ business model; the timely receipt of governmental approvals; the timely commencement of operations by Jetlines and the success of such operations; the legislative and regulatory environments of the jurisdictions where the Jetlines will carry on business or have operations; the impact of competition and the competitive response to the Jetlines’ business strategy; and the availability of aircraft. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.
Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks related to, the ability to obtain financing at acceptable terms, the impact of general economic conditions, domestic and international airline industry conditions, future relations with shareholders, volatility of fuel prices, increases in operating costs, terrorism, pandemics, natural disasters, currency fluctuations, interest rates, risks specific to the airline industry, the ability of management to implement Jetlines’ operational strategy, the ability to attract qualified management and staff, labour disputes, regulatory risks, including risks relating to the acquisition of the necessary licenses and permits; and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators. There is no assurance that the closing of the Offering will occur. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) has reviewed or accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
