Allegiant SVP to head Canada's Jetlines, invest in equity

Jetlines (Vancouver Int'l) has appointed Lukas Johnson, who has recently resigned as Allegiant Air (G4, Las Vegas McCarran) Senior Vice-President (Commercial), as the Canadian ultra-low-cost carrier's new CEO. Johnson will also acquire a 5% stake in the carrier's subsidiary, Canada Jetlines Operations Ltd., for CAD700,000 (USD544,000), the airline has announced.
Johnson's tenure as Jetlines CEO will officially commence on June 18, 2018, until when the current CEO Stan Gadek will continue to lead the carrier.

Johnson will bring eight-year senior management experience from Allegiant Air where he held a number of executive positions prior to his resignation in mid-May 2018.
His shares in Canada Jetlines Operations Ltd. will have limited rights and will be subject to certain restrictions, including a two-year restriction on transfer. Subsequently, the shares will be redeemable by either the airline or Johnson.

Jetlines, founded in 2013, had earlier announced it would launch in June 2018 with hubs at Halifax and Abbotsford. However, this timeline has been delayed as the airline struggled to secure leases for B737-800 aircraft in a considerably tightened market. It now plans to firm up a lease commitment for two A320-200s by the end of this quarter. A new timeline for launch will be announced once the airline has secured the aircraft.
The Canadian ULCC also has a firm order for five B737 MAX 7s directly with Boeing but deliveries of the type are not expected to commence before 2019.