Kelowna International Airport is still waiting for a response from New Leaf, with a deposit, just over a week before their first flight from YLW is scheduled.

Sam Samaddar, airport director in Kelowna, said they go through a process when there is a new airline.

“Part of that is what we call an airport use agreement, which we have forwarded that to them and they're reviewing that,” Samaddar explained.

Photo Credit: New Leaf.

New Leaf has been asked to provide insurance requirements and deposits for using the facility.

Samaddar said they’ve given them until July 22 for them to respond, a tight deadline for the airline which has been selling flights for July 25.

Still, the airport director said he thinks all will be a go.

"We've had dialogue. We're just working through logistics,” he said. “I have no indication that that's not going to happen.”

The situation has been a rather unusual one. New Leaf originally announced a February launch, but came across some red tape, leading to them cancelling. A few months later, they had everything sorted out and re-launched in late June.

Photo Credit: New Leaf on Facebook.

"Usually, you have a bit more time,” said Samaddar. “So it's hard to deal with not just our airport, but a number of airports across the country, in terms of getting these agreements in place.”

Not all airports require agreements when there is a new operator, but YLW does. Samaddar said they rolled it out a few years ago to ensure that they are protected if an airline goes under, and they are unable to collect the money they’re owed.

“Starting a new airline is a very risky business and there is a lot of examples prior to this one where new entrants into the market have not succeeded and gone bankrupt,” he said. “I want to wish them all the best.

“I think there is a place in the market for an ultra-low-cost carrier.”

Each time New Leaf lands at YLW, they will pay a fee. This will be paired with terminal fees, fees for using the baggage system, the counters and other services they’ll need.  

New Leaf and Flare will each pay a number of those fees because of the agreement between the two, who will both be invoiced monthly.

Samaddar wouldn't comment on how much they will likely pay.

He said he has high hopes for a model that has worked in the U.S. and around the world and looks at it from a consumer perspective.

"Having competition in the marketplace is a good thing because it reduces airfares.”