Low-cost carriers and affordable flight prices help make travel more accessible to everyone. With the introduction of several budget airlines in Canada in recent years, even the more prominent airlines have been forced to lower the prices of their domestic flights to compete. Fortunately for Canadians, the vast landscape of the country is now within closer reach when booking a domestic flight on one of these ultra-affordable airlines.
9 Flair Airlines
Flair Airlines is a Canadian low-cost carrier based out of Edmonton, Alberta. They fly to 20 destinations across Canada and offer budget rates for travelers who know how to pack light. While the base fare is cheap, Flair charges additional fees for carry-on luggage and checked bags. Passengers can choose to pay for these items at the time of booking (by selecting the Basic Bundle or Big Bundle add-ons) to save on baggage costs.
8 Swoop
Swoop is an ultra-low-cost carrier that is owned by WestJet and is based out of Calgary. Swoop flies to 18 different destinations within Canada, including major hubs like Toronto, ON, Victoria, BC, Halifax, NS, and Edmonton, AB. Although flights on Swoop are generally very cheap, travelers should keep in mind that their ticket doesn’t include any baggage besides a personal item.
After booking, passengers can add carry-on luggage or checked bags online for an additional fee. Be sure to add any bags online before arriving at the airport. Purchasing bags online before check-in is at least $10 cheaper than paying online at the time of check-in and at least $20 cheaper than paying in person at the airport.
7 Lynx Air
Lynx Air, previously Enerjet, is based out of Calgary, Alberta, and is another relatively new Canadian low-cost carrier. They serve major Canadian cities like Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver, Kelowna and Winnipeg, with new destinations being added over time. The Lynx Air model lets passengers pay as little or as much as they want, depending on what services they expect during their flight. They can keep it simple with the base fare or pay extra for priority boarding, baggage, and seat selection.
6 Porter Airlines
Porter is a regional airline that is based out of the Toronto Islands in Ontario. The airline flies out of Billy Bishop Airport (YTZ) and services 16 destinations within Canada. Despite being budget-friendly, flying with Porter offers some more comforts compared to low-cost carriers like Swoop or Flair. Porter’s planes don’t have middle seats, with only two seats on either side of the aisle for more space and comfort throughout the flight.
5 WestJet
WestJet is yet another Canadian airline based out of Calgary, Alberta. Although they are the second-largest airline in Canada, transporting hundreds of passengers daily, they still offer domestic fares that compete with the low-cost carriers in the country. There are some perks to booking affordable flights through WestJet instead of a budget airline, particularly where baggage fees are concerned.
Travelers paying for Econoflex automatically get a free checked bag. For passengers flying Premium, PremiumFlex, Business, or BusinessFlex fares, the second checked bag is also included in the ticket price.
4 Air North
Air North, Yukon's Airline, is a Canadian airline that operates out of Whitehorse, Yukon. Passengers can book flights on Air North to fly between the Yukon, Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario. In addition to offering affordable rates that connect Canadians to the lesser-traveled northern Provinces and Territories, Air North has a generous baggage policy. Travelers can also book travel packages through Air North to explore the Yukon or Vancouver.
3 Air Canada Jazz
Air Canada Jazz, or just Jazz, is a regional airline that operates out of Halifax, Nova Scotia. They are a partner of Canada’s largest airline, Air Canada, and fly short charter journeys across the country. As a partner of Air Canada, travelers should book their Air Canada Jazz trips through Air Canada’s website and note that Air Canada’s baggage policies and other terms apply to their Jazz journey. For affordable prices, passengers on Air Canada Jazz can fly domestically to major hubs like Vancouver, Halifax, Toronto, Montreal, and Calgary.
2 Sunwing
Sunwing is a low-cost carrier that is based out of Toronto, Ontario. While most Canadians know Sunwing for its budget-friendly Caribbean vacation packages, the airline is also an affordable option for flying domestically. Flying out of Toronto, travelers can use Sunwing to fly to Vancouver on the west coast or St. John’s and Gander on the East Coast. To get the most for their money, travelers flying on Sunwing can look into booking flight and hotel combinations through the airline, which typically results in a discounted price for accommodation.
1 Air Transat
Air Transat is a Canadian airline that is based out of Montreal, Quebec. It’s the third-largest behind Air Canada and WestJet, offering competitive prices for domestic flights across the country. They fly to Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, and Montreal, plus Air Transat offers seasonal service to other Canadian destinations such as Kelowna, Moncton, and Halifax. Air Transat isn’t a budget airline, so passengers can rest easy knowing their baggage is included in their fare, although the baggage allowance is different depending on what class of travel passengers book.