RICHMOND, BC – The federal transport minister is promising legislation allowing international companies to own up to 49 per cent of an airline in Canada, a jump from the current cap of 25 per cent.

One of the companies it will immediately affect is Canada Jetlines, based out of Richmond, BC.

It wants to set up a maintenance hub in Winnipeg, creating 250 new jobs, along with providing direct flights to Canadian and American destinations, including Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Phoenix.

“Winnipeg has a long tradition of being able to maintain aircraft,” explains CEO of Canada Jetlines Jim Scott. “Winnipeg has the expertise and the maintenance facilities. It’s just a natural match.”

Scott expects production of aircrafts to ramp up quickly.

“You start with two aircrafts because it’s basically a government regulation, but we are up to six aircraft in the first year and then we add five aircraft a year. Our business model goes out for eight years.”

The company said it has provided the government its business plan to travel to under-served airports and customers that are being locked out of the market by price.