Air Canada Is Offering Fare Caps & Extra Seats Following Lynx Air's Sudden Shutdown

Air Canada has announced it will cap fares and add over 6,000 seats on select routes formerly operated by Lynx Air. The move comes after the discount carrier revealed it will cease operations as of February 26. Covering routes across Canada, the United States, and Cancun, Mexico, the measures will offer alternative travel options for passengers impacted by Lynx Air's impending shutdown.

The special fares are available for bookings made before February 26 for travel extending through April 2, to cover March Spring break and the Easter holidays. Air Canada plans to add capacity on routes from Montreal and Toronto to destinations including Fort Myers, Orlando, Tampa, Cancun, Phoenix, and Las Vegas, between February 25 and March 19.

The airline noted the challenge of further expanding capacity due to flights already being "relatively full" with a high volume of existing bookings during the busy winter travel season.

Air Canada has specified that it can't honour Lynx Air tickets directly, so affected customers are being encouraged to make new arrangements through the airline's website, and to consult the Canadian Transportation Agency for further advice.

Passengers scheduled to fly with Lynx Air after February 25 can seek refunds through their credit card companies, as the airline will not be available to provide assistance. Lynx Air also mentioned it would continue to operate the majority of its flights until February 25, notifying passengers of cancellations via email.

Lynx Air's decision to cease operations was attributed to a combination of financial pressures, including inflation, high fuel costs, exchange rate fluctuations, and regulatory expenses. It launched as Canada's "ultra-low-cost" carrier in 2022.

In light of Lynx Air's shutdown, WestJet has also announced measures to assist impacted travelers, offering discounted fares and capping prices on routes previously served by Lynx. That includes setting maximum fares for economy cabin travel on non-stop routes, with bookings available until February 29 for travel up until the same date.