Canada’s Lynx Air has confirmed it will start operations next year, initially flying three Boeing 737 MAXs from its Calgary base.

The carrier was initially known as Enerjet, a charter airline based in Calgary, flying oil sand workers to job sites in Alberta and undertaking contracts for tour and holiday operators.

From now on, Lynx will adopt a ULCC model and be led by president and CEO Merren McArthur, the ex-CEO of Virgin Australia’s former low-cost subsidiary Tigerair Australia.

She said: “We are excited to bring competition and choice to the Canadian aviation market at a time when Canadians are yearning for the opportunity to fly again, whether it be to see friends and family or to take a long-awaited holiday.”

Lynx has orders and lease agreements in place for 46 737 MAXs over the next seven years, with the first aircraft arriving in early 2022.

“Boeing’s newest 737 aircraft enables the lowest cost operation of any aircraft in its market segment, making it a great fit for Lynx Air’s ultra-low-cost business model,” said Brad McMullen, SVP of sales, North America at Boeing Commercial Airplanes.