The middle of a pandemic with travel bans and airline bankruptcies happening around the world may seem like an odd time to launch a brand new airline, but that’s exactly what OWG is planning.
OWG — standing for Off We Go — announced its launch this week as a Quebec-based carrier with a mission to “offer a unique travel experience to tropical destinations.”
Who’s Behind OWG?
OWG is being launched by Nolinor Aviation, a 27-year-old airline with extensive experience operating charter flights in Canada’s Far North with a fleet of ten Boeing 737s.
According to Nolinor:
The Nolinor Aviation team has been quietly working since 2018 to create a new airline that will position them in the tourist flight market. The company invested more than $1 million in a think tank to reinvent the way things are done in this industry. They analyzed the best airlines in the world to establish the values and mission behind the new OWG brand.
Nolinor Aviation is an experienced operator of charter flights on Boeing 737 aircraft in the Far North of Canada.
When and where will the new airline fly?
The Quebec-based carrier hasn’t announced its initial destinations but states that it will begin operations in “the coming months” and that destinations will be announced shortly.
OWG received authorization from Canada’s Minister of Transport to provide regular international flight service on July 6th 2020.
What’s OWG’s Concept? What aircraft will it fly?
OWG states that it acquired a fleet of Boeing 737-400s earlier this year. The aircraft are in the process of being retrofitted “so they meet the company’s high service and safety standards” costing millions of dollars. The interior of each plane was refurbished with new, lighter, and sturdier seats.
OWG aircraft will be tracked in real-time using a sophisticated communication system. The airline plans to offer competitive rates and opted for a 158-configuration for its Boeing 737-400 aircraft.
The airline does not seem to be approaching the new venture from a low-cost model. According to the CEO, “the flight portion of your trip should be an integral part of your vacation. Traditional airlines have chosen to cut the quality of their services year after year with no regard for the passenger experience. Our goal is to win the hearts of Quebecers with a new airline whose mission is to get travelers excited again.”
The airline believes its team will be critical in providing the customer experience:
In addition to these technological innovations, the new brand is counting on the quality of its team to provide a travel experience that will exceed customer expectations. With respect to in-flight protection standards against COVID-19, the OWG crew will benefit from the expertise developed by Nolinor Aviation during the crisis, while they continued to serve certain northern destinations by applying the highest standards in terms of health and safety.
OWG will soon offer flights to Tropical destinations from Quebec on Boeing 737-400 aircraft. Photo by Nolinor Aviation.
The Upshot
This is obviously a challenging time to be launching a new carrier to say the least but is facing it head-first OWG, starting its announcement with “against all odds.” Air Canada essentially holds a monopoly on the Canadian air market. Any new entrant will be squaring off against them and providing Canadian consumers with a new choice in the marketplace. We’ll be keeping a close eye on OWG and its eye-catching livery.
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