Austin Airways

Austin Airways
Company type	Airline
Industry	Aviation
Predecessor	Capreol and Austin Air Services
Founded	1934
Defunct	1987
Fate	Merged with Air Ontario Ltd to form Air Ontario Inc.
Successor	Air Ontario Inc.
Headquarters	Timmins, Canada
Area served	Northern Ontario, Quebec, Northwest Territories (now Nunavut), United States (Minneapolis/St. Paul)
Products	Passenger and cargo air transport services

Austin Airways was an airline specializing in both passenger and cargo transport, headquartered in Timmins, Ontario. It held the distinction of being among the longest-operating airlines in Canada.

History

Established in 1934 under the name Capreol and Austin Air Services, the airline operated out of Timmins, offering both passenger and freight flights. Its network spanned more than 40 destinations, including one location within the United States. In 1973, it combined operations with White River Air Services, yet the Austin Airways brand was preserved.

By June 1987, Austin Airways merged with Air Ontario Ltd (previously known as Great Lakes Airlines), creating Air Ontario Inc. This entity eventually integrated into Air Canada Jazz in 2001.

The joint timetable published on April 26, 1987, for Air Ontario/Austin Airways featured code-share flights under the Air Canada Connector banner, operated on behalf of Air Canada. The Austin Airways fleet comprised aircraft such as the 14-seat Beechcraft 99, 7-seat Cessna 402, 19-seat de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, 37-seat de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8, and the 40–43 seat Hawker Siddeley HS 748 turboprop. The HS 748 represented the largest plane within their lineup.

Historical fleet

The aircraft types operated by Austin Airways included:

Beech 99 (turboprop)
Cessna Citation (business jet)
Cessna 402
Consolidated PBY Canso (amphibian aircraft)
de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver
de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter
de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter (STOL capable turboprop)
Douglas DC-3 (including C-47)
Hawker Siddeley HS 748 (turboprop)

Destinations

Austin Airways predominantly connected remote airports across northern regions of Ontario, Quebec, and the Northwest Territories (currently Nunavut) within Canada, along with several major airports in Ontario. Its only destination outside Canada was Minneapolis/St. Paul in the U.S..

Ontario Province

Attawapiskat, Ontario
Bear Lake, Ontario
Bearskin Lake, Ontario
Big Trout Lake, Ontario
Cochrane, Ontario
Fort Albany, Ontario
Fort Hope, Ontario
Fort Severn, Ontario - the northernmost destination
Geraldton, Ontario
Kapuskasing, Ontario
Kasabonika Lake, Ontario
Kashechewan First Nation, Ontario
Kenora, Ontario
Lansdowne House, Ontario
Manitouwadge, Ontario
Marathon, Ontario
Moosonee, Ontario
Nakina, Ontario
Pickle Lake, Ontario
Pikangikum, Ontario
Red Lake, Ontario
Round Lake, Ontario
Sachigo Lake, Ontario
Sandy Lake, Ontario
Sioux Lookout, Ontario
Sudbury, Ontario
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Timmins, Ontario - headquarters
Toronto, Ontario
Trenton, Ontario
Webequie First Nation, Ontario
Windsor, Ontario - the southernmost destination
Winisk, Ontario

Quebec Province

Akulivik, Quebec
Eastmain, Quebec
Fort George (currently known as Chisasibi, Quebec)
Fort Rupert, Quebec
Great Whale (now called Kuujjuarapik, Quebec)
Inukjuak, Quebec
Ivujivik, Quebec
Povungnituk, Quebec
Rupert House (presently referred to as Waskaganish, Quebec)
Sugluk (now named Salluit, Quebec)

Nunavut

Previously incorporated within the Northwest Territories

United States

Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota - sole destination in the U.S.

Accidents and incidents

Throughout its years of operation, Austin Airways encountered multiple accidents:

On 9 January 1964, a Douglas C-47 CF-ILQ crashed shortly after departing Moosonee due to engine failure caused by fuel exhaustion; both pilots survived and were rescued several days later. The aircraft remains at the original crash location.
On 9 November 1969, a Douglas C-47B CF-AAL went down while approaching Timmins from Winisk, resulting in two fatalities out of four passengers and crew.
On 19 June 1970, a Douglas C-47A CF-AAC was damaged beyond repair in an incident at Val-d'Or.
On 4 September 1976, a DHC-3 CF-MIT collided with power lines near Fraserdale under poor visibility conditions; all ten individuals aboard lost their lives—marking the deadliest mishap in Austin Airways' history.
On 10 December 1976, a Douglas C-47A C-FIAX crashed during takeoff from Chisasibi; fortunately, all eight occupants survived.
On 19 January 1986, a Douglas C-47A C-GNNA struck a non-directional beacon tower at Sachigo Lake Airport; despite serious injuries to the pilot, a controlled crash landing was executed, saving all five people onboard.

External links