Lethbridge among 5 Canadian cities to add flights to Arizona

An Alberta airline is adding flights to Arizona at three airports in the province including Lethbridge, Alta.

Edmonton-based Flair Airlines will connect southern Arizona withLethbridge, Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Alta., Prince George, B.C. and Windsor, Ont. this winter.

Flair Airlines chief commercial officer Garth Lund said the airline created a partnership with Tucson, Ariz.to connect underserved Canadian communities.

"Aside from Edmonton, most of these cities don't right now have nonstop, affordable service to the sun," Lund said at a press conference.

Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen said recent renovations at the airport paved the way for increased air service to and from the city.

"It starts with one, and once one is in, it's more and more and more," Hyggen said.

"We want to be able to entice carriers to come into our community and just give them a reason to fly out of Lethbridge. And it's been great."

The City of Lethbridge recently invested $2.6 million in airport improvements along with more than $20 million in provincial and federal grants.

Hyggen said as the city's population grows, infrastructure investments are needed.

Lisa Trent, director of corporate customer and commercial services at the City of Lethbridge, said the increased connectivity highlights the potential of the southern Alberta air market.

"We very much as a city are positioning ourselves for growth and want to maintain an open opportunity to any and all airlines that would be looking to come to Lethbridge for service."