Lynx Air (Calgary) President and Chief Executive Officer Merren McArthur has resigned from the airline amid the news that the carrier has employed consultants to lobby Canadian government institutions for grants to expand operations and increase staffing.

McArthur is leaving for personal reasons to return to her family in Australia but will stay on until the end of September, allowing time for the selection and appointment of a new CEO, the airline said in a statement. As the founding CEO, having joined Lynx Air in June 2021, she oversaw the strategy, launch and rapid growth of Lynx Air during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, the ultra-low-cost carrier has employed the services of lobbyists Julie DeWolfe and Andrew Teliszewsky of Toronto-based GT & Company Executive Advisors, according to a filing with the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada. It was pointed out to ch-aviation that "it is standard practice for new and growing companies of all kinds to engage with the government regarding policy development, having a voice at the table and potentially accessing funding that is available. The information in the form is a description only, not an expression of intent".

The lobbyists' mandate is to "explore funding opportunities for infrastructure and training, to expand operations and increase staff", "engage government officials regarding budget implementation on new rules for airlines", and share information regarding Lynx Air's operations in Canada and "on the positive impact ultra-low-cost carriers have on the Canadian economy".

Government institutions to be lobbied include the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA), Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Finance Canada (FIN), the House of Commons, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the Privy Council Office (PCO), the Senate of Canada, and Transport Canada (TC).

The lobbying also is to cover the following broad subject matters: budget, climate, consumer issues, economic development, employment and training, environment, industry, infrastructure, labour, regional development, science and technology, taxation and finance, tourism and transportation.

Lynx Air was not prepared to comment on record. The Canadian carrier backed by Indigo Partners told ch-aviation earlier this year it was planning to ramp up its fleet to forty-six B737-8 MAX in the next four to five years, eleven of which are expected in 2023/24 as the Calgary-based airline looks to consolidate its Canadian network and expand transborder to the US and further afield. McArthur said Lynx Air would take another four aircraft over the next 12 months, growing its fleet to ten B737-8 MAX this year.

Most Canadian airlines are registered with the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada, including Air Canada, which received CAD695,000 Canadian dollars (USD) from the Ontario Tourism Recovery Programme in the financial year ending December 31, 2022. Others include WestJet, Flair Airlines, Porter Airlines and Pivot Airlines, according to ch-aviation research.