KELOWNA – Flair Airlines has appointed a former Air Canada executive to be its new Executive Chairman.

David M. Tait has joined the low-fare airline, bringing with him a wealth of airline experience to the role. He has held various positions over the years at Air Canada in Montreal, Virgin Atlantic Airways in New York, Laker Airways in Toronto and Miami, as well as Wardair Canada in Toronto.

In 1984, Tait helped Richard Branson craft a business plan for what would become Virgin Atlantic Airways, after which he spent the next 18 years as Executive Vice President.

In May 2001, he was awarded an OBE (Officer of The Order of the British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth II for “Services to British Aviation in North America”.

After leaving Virgin, Tait then served as Senior Vice President, Customer Service for Air Canada. He also became a best-selling author and award-winning travel columnist.

On his new appointment, he said: “Canadians have been denied the services of an independent, truly low-cost, low-fare carrier for way too long. With Flair, I am excited to join another airline that, like we did with Virgin, can shake up the status quo with innovative, quality, friendly air service at consistently low fares and, most importantly, get more people out of their couches and into the air.”

Jim Scott, CEO, Flair Airlines, added: “We are thrilled to have David join our team. His expertise, deep industry knowledge and unique experience in successfully leveraging the advantages the little guy has in an industry dominated by relative Goliaths, will be invaluable. The only way to build the best airline in Canada is to have the best people, and David certainly falls into that category.”

On June 15, Flair will more than double its present total of 90 flights per week with increased non-stop and direct connectivity throughout an expanded Canada network that stretches from Halifax to Victoria