Canadian Airlines

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Canadian Airlines International Ltd. was, from 1987 until 2001, Canada's second largest airline after Air Canada, carrying more than 11.9 million passengers to over 160 destinations in 17 countries on five continents at its height in 1996. The airline and its planes was acquired by Air Canada in 2001.

History

Canadian Airlines International Ltd., which was the principal subsidiary of Canadian Airlines Corporation (formerly PWA Corporation), was the descendant of five predecessor airlines. On March 27, 1987, Canadian Pacific Air Lines, Eastern Provincial Airways, Nordair and Pacific Western Airlines amalgamated to form the new airline.

PWA Corporation acquired Wardair in 1989, establishing Canadian as an important player in the global industry with the addition of new routes. Its major hubs were at Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, Vancouver International Airport, and Calgary International Airport. Canadian Airlines streamlined its operations and went through the financial restructuring of over $700 million in debt, after the 1991 airline industry slump.

On November 1 1996, Kevin Benson, then president and CEO, unveiled a restructuring strategy to improve the profitability of Canadian Airlines. The operational restructuring plan was supposed to be phased in over a four year period, addressing the main issues of cost control, revenue growth, capitalization and fleet renewal. It was also one of the founding members of the oneworld airline alliances, along with American Airlines and British Airways. The plan started off well but with the Asian economic downturn 1998, air traffic decreased and Canadian was suffering on its most profitable route.

Canadian Airlines served 105 destinations in Canada, more than any other airline. Canadian Airlines' domestic network was broken down into five divisions:

• Canadian Regional Airlines, which served 69 destinations in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Northwest Territories, Ontario, and the United States. Canadian Regional was 100 percent owned by Canadian Airlines.
• Calm Air International Ltd. which served 27 destinations in Manitoba, northwestern Ontario, and the Northwest Territories. Calm Air was 45 percent owned by Canadian Regional and continues to operate under seperate management.
• Inter-Canadien Inc. served Ottawa, Toronto, Labrador, and 26 destinations throughout Quebec. Inter-Canadien was 100 percent owned by Canadian Regional.
• Air Atlantic, a regional partner of Canadian Airlines, served 16 destinations throughout the Atlantic provinces, Quebec, Ontario, and the United States.
• Canadian North was a division of Canadian Airlines created to serve the northern regions. Canadian North had a network of 10 destinations that expanded from its southern bases of Edmonton and Winnipeg. Canadian North also had a commercial agreement with Aklak Air, an Inuit-owned and operated airline in the Northwest Territories. Canadian North was sold in 1998 to Norterra and continues to operate an an independant airline.

In its last few years of operation, Canadian Airlines extended its international route network in Asia, with the most recent expansion of service to Malaysia and the Philippines, which gave it eight destinations in Asia. At that time Canadian Airlines had the distinction of flying to more places in Asia, more often, than any other Canadian carrier.

Canadian Airlines' core business strategy focused on building its Vancouver hub into the leading gateway between North America and Asia. It leveraged its codesharing agreement with American Airlines in order to help capture a greater share of U.S.-Asia traffic flows.

After continued poor performance, Canadian Airlines was acquired by Air Canada in 2000; numerous other proposals for survival had been considered and rejected, including a rival bid led by American Airlines to purchase Canadian Airlines.

Canadian Airlines 737 at Ottawa International Airport

Canadian Airlines was headquartered in Calgary, Alberta and had revenue of approximately $3 billion at the end of 1999.

Historical Destinations

Livery

The aircraft of Canadian Airlines used four colours: light grey, dark grey, navy blue, and red. The lower half of the aircraft's body was navy blue, topped with light grey and red borders. The tail was two-thirds blue, with the remaining third taken up by a light grey colour. Over the light grey were five dark grey lines, representing the five continents served by the carrier. Over these lines was a thick, bright red chevron ">".

Canadian Airlines logo since mid-1980s until 1999 when it was replaced by the "Proud Wings" logo

Its last livery with a Canada Goose painted at the tail of the aircraft is known as the "Proud Wings" livery.

Also, during the aqquisistion by Air Canada, part of the proud wings livery was completely replaced with a white body (with the exception of the word Canadi>n) and an Air Canada tail (with a red maple leaf against a black background).

Historical fleet

At the time of its acquisition by Air Canada, it operated a fleet of 163 aircraft, that included

• Airbus A320
• Boeing 737-200
• Boeing 767-300ER
• Boeing 747-400
• Douglas DC-10-30
• Fokker F28

External links

• [ALPA-Former Canadian Pilots]
• [Images of Canadian Airlines planes]

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