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In an interview with the Financial Post, Scott said he plans on lowering Flair’s costs by negotiating with vendors to get better operating agreements on things such as fuel, as well as by improving scheduling so fleet usage is maximized and crews are flown more efficiently.

“We spent $3 million a year moving flight crews around on other peoples’ airlines and on overnight (duty),” Scott said. “We need to bring that down.”

The change in leadership comes as Flair faces the prospect of a more crowded ULCC market, as WestJet and Jetlines, the company Scott co-founded, gear up to launch their own ultra-low cost airlines in the summer.

While Scott says the company will be ready to compete with the new carriers, Raymond James analyst Ben Cherniavsky said that WestJet’s ULCC Swoop — which is expected to begin selling tickets in February and begin flying in June — will “make it very difficult for any ULCC to stay in the air or get off the ground.”

When it comes to Flair’s change in management, Cherniavsky said in an email that it “does not increase their chances against Swoop.”

“They lack the costs, aircraft type, and balance sheet to compete,” he said.

Cherniavsky wrote in a detailed analysis sent to clients earlier this week that the launch of Swoop will serve as a defensive move for WestJet.

“By taking advantage of its established position, deep pockets, and strong understanding of the market, the company can quickly move in… blanket-bomb Canada with ultra-low fares and capitalize on the first-mover advantage,” he said.