Tucson Looks To Boost Tourism With Canadian Airline Partnership

TUCSON, AZ —The Tucson Airport Authority, Visit Tucson, which promotes travel to the city, and Canadian-based Flair Airlines on Tuesday announced an agreement that soon will result in several flights a week traveling from Canada to Tucson, and vice versa.

The partnership, which also includes five Canadian airports —four of them in somewhat less-traveled locations — is designed to increase tourism in both Tucson and Canada. Plus, it will establish Tucson as a U.S. winter crew base and temporary home for Flair's Canadian-based crews, according to the airline.

The nonstop flights, which will begin in late November, will travel between Tucson International Airport (TUS) and Edmonton, Fort McMurray and Lethbridge, Alberta; Prince George, British Colombia and Windsor, Ontario.

These will be the only nonstop flights to the U.S. from all of the airports but Edmonton.

"We are excited to partner with Flair and Visit Tucson to add nonstop flights to and from Canada," said Danette Bewley, president and CEO of the Tucson Airport Authority. "TUS will be the exclusive Arizona —and U.S., for that matter — destination from four of those airports. We look forward to welcoming and introducing Canadians to our beautiful region.

"In addition to new international air service, there is tremendous economic potential for Southern Arizonans and Canadians to develop new connections and relationships."

Visit Tucson is a nonprofit with a mission to "drive economic development by connecting visitors with their ideal travel and meetings experiences in Tucson."

"We look forward to welcoming our visitors from Canada, and I hope Tucsonans will also take the opportunity to explore our partner communities up north," said Felipe Garcia, president and CEO of Visit Tucson.

Garth Lund, chief commercial officer for Edmonton-based Flair Airlines, said the partnership will help fill a void for Canadians living near the five airports.

"For too long, many communities in Canada have been without service to warm-weather destinations. Flair is looking forward to stimulating new demand with our everyday low fares," Lund said.

According to a release, the flights will start $79 USD/$99 CAD one way.

Tucson officials also said that U.S. Customs and Border Protection will allow passengers from four of the Canadian airports —excluding Edmonton —to clear U.S. Customs after they land in Tucson because the Canadian airports do not have U.S. Customs pre-clearance.

More details about the Tucson/Canadian flights are available on the Flair Airlines website.