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Time Air

From Alfawiki
Time Air Ltd.
Company typePrivate
IndustryAirline
Founded1966 in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
FounderWalter "Stubb" Ross
Defunct1993
FateMerged with Ontario Express to form Canadian Regional Airlines
Headquarters
Lethbridge
,
Canada
Area served
Canada, United States (limited international routes)
Key people
Walter "Stubb" Ross (founder)
ProductsPassenger air transport services
ParentCanadian Airlines International (minority stake in late 1980s, full control by 1991)

Time Air was a Canadian carrier established in 1966 by entrepreneur Walter “Stubb” Ross in Lethbridge, Alberta. Initially called Lethbridge Air Service, the airline was rebranded as Time Airways Ltd in 1969 and later shortened its name to Time Air Ltd. In 1993, it merged with Ontario Express to create Canadian Regional Airlines.

History

The origins of Time Air trace back to founder "Stubb" Ross personally piloting passengers from their residences in Lethbridge, with initial operations based at Lethbridge Airport. The airline rapidly addressed a service void in southern Alberta after Air Canada discontinued turboprop flights linking Lethbridge to Calgary and Edmonton in the early 1970s. Over twenty years, Time Air grew its fleet from 20-seat de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter planes to the 30-seat Short 330, becoming the pioneer operator of this aircraft model. The fleet also featured Fairchild F-27 turboprops, the 50-seat de Havilland Canada Dash 7, and eventually standardized on the Bombardier Dash 8, acquiring the first-ever stretched Dash 8 Series 300 worldwide in February 1989. The 36-seat Short 360 was deployed on short-haul routes within British Columbia, mainly between Vancouver and Victoria.

Through strategic takeovers of Calgary-based Southern Frontier Airlines and Saskatoon-based Norcanair, Time Air briefly incorporated Convair CV-580 and Convair CV-640 turboprops into its fleet. The airline also operated Fokker F28 Fellowship jets, at one point becoming the largest global operator of this jet type. By 1999, under the Canadian Regional Airlines banner, the operation included Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner propjets, F28 jets, and Dash 8 turboprops servicing Canadian Regional code-share flights into Calgary.

In the late 1980s, following the formation of Canadian Airlines International after Pacific Western Airlines acquired CP Air, a minority stake in Time Air was obtained by Canadian Airlines International, which gained full control by January 1991. A holding entity named Canadian Regional Airlines was created by Canadian Airlines International to oversee investments in Time Air and other regional carriers such as Ontario Express and Inter-Canadien.

By April 1993, Canadian Regional Airlines consolidated the operations of Time Air and Ontario Express under the "Canadian Regional Airlines" brand, utilizing Canadian Airlines International’s "CP" flight code through code-sharing agreements. By 1995, Time Air functioned as a Canadian Airlines Partner feeder service. The formal merger of Time Air with Ontario Express took place in July 1998 under Time Air’s air operator certificate. While Inter-Canadien maintained a separate brand identity, it was wholly owned by Canadian Regional Airlines. In 2001, Canadian Regional Airlines was integrated into Air Canada Jazz following Air Canada's acquisition of Canadian Airlines International.

Destinations in 1970

As per its system timetable dated October 25, 1970, Time Airways provided scheduled passenger flights to five locations within Alberta:

By early 1976, a sixth destination in Alberta—Grande Prairie (YQU)—was added while continuing service to the original five cities. At that time, the fleet comprised the Fokker F27 Friendship and STOL-capable de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter. By late 1978, service extended to a seventh destination, Pincher Creek (WPL), utilizing both the Short 330 turboprops alongside DHC-6 Twin Otters. The airline operated from Edmonton Industrial Airport (later known as Edmonton City Centre Airport) rather than Edmonton International Airport and competed against Pacific Western Airlines, which flew Boeing 737-200 jets on the Calgary-Edmonton corridor. By spring 1981, all Calgary-Edmonton flights were conducted using the STOL-capable de Havilland Canada DHC-7 Dash 7.

Destinations in 1988

As of October 30, 1988, Time Air’s scheduled passenger services connected various locations across Canada and the United States, including the following:

Time Air maintained two international routes to the U.S.: Vancouver to Seattle and Regina to Minneapolis/St. Paul. The Seattle connection was operated with de Havilland Canada DHC-7 Dash 7 and DHC-8 Dash 8 aircraft featuring several daily departures. The Minneapolis/St. Paul service utilized daily Fokker F28 jet flights. Earlier in 1988, Time Air also offered nonstop flights between Lethbridge and Great Falls in Montana; however, this route was discontinued prior to October.

Fleet

The airline's fleet consisted of the following aircraft types:

See also

External links

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