The discount airline NewLeaf Travel Company will begin takeoff in Abbotsford late next month, after previously putting its plans on hold.

The company announced today (Thursday) that its first flights in Canada will start July 25. Its first flight from Abbotsford leaves July 31.

NewLeaf initially indicated it would fly from Abbotsford Airport to Winnipeg and Saskatoon, but that plan has changed and the flights will now to go Winnipeg and Fort St. John.

One-way fares start at $89.

The company first announced in early January that it would offer direct flights from seven Canadian airports –  Abbotsford, Halifax, Hamilton, Kelowna, Regina, Saskatoon and Winnipeg – to 12 Canadian cities.

Less than two weeks later, the company reported it was postponing those plans due to some ambiguity about licensing.

Under a charter agreement with Kelowna-based Flair Airlines Ltd., Flair held the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) operating licence while NewLeaf offered seat sales.

NewLeaf had previously been given an exemption from holding a licence directly while the CTA reviewed its legislation, but details became less clear about whether the company needed to amend its relationship with Flair, and the start-up was delayed.

In late March, NewLeaf announced that the CTA had completed its review of licensing regulations, and the company was not required to hold an air licence.

At that time, the airline indicated it would resume booking in the near future, but didn’t give an exact date.

The flights will leave Sundays and Thursdays from Abbotsford on a Boeing 737-400 plane with 156 seats. Booking can be done online at gonewleaf.ca