Corporate Express (airline)
Encyclopedia
Corporate Express was an airline
based in Calgary
, Alberta
, Canada
. It operated air taxi and executive charter services, as well as scheduled services. Its main base was Calgary International Airport
. The airline shut down operations on June 18, 2009.
In the mid-1980s Peariso Aviation acquired Corpac Canada Ltd., which represented the Piper Aircraft Corporation and sold the Piper Cheyenne turboprop aircraft across Canada.
Corpac Canada eventually acquired an aircraft and diversified into the aircraft charter business. In 1991 Corporate Express Business and Charter Airline established the first corporate shuttle service in Western Canada operating between Calgary and Edmonton for the TELUS Corporation (then AGT) using the 18 passenger British Aerospace Jetstream 32.
Over the course of the next 10 years, Corporate Express Business and Charter Airline at times included several scheduled shuttle routes and charters, as determined by customer demand for these services.
It was with the customer in mind that the SAAB 340 Airliner was acquired in the year 2000. This 30 passenger aircraft marked the millennium for Corporate Express and once again raised the standard for corporate shuttle services and charters within Western Canada.
The airline merged with Avia Aviation, and acquired a fleet of Piaggio P180 Avanti
aircraft in December 2005. In October 2006, an additional Saab 340
aircraft, that had been acquired earlier that year, enabled a number of new scheduled service routes to be added. These included Dawson Creek, British Columbia
, Edmonton
and Grande Prairie, Alberta
.
Corporate Express operated a scheduled air service between Calgary and Fort McMurray, Alberta.
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
based in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It operated air taxi and executive charter services, as well as scheduled services. Its main base was Calgary International Airport
Calgary International Airport
Calgary International Airport, , is the international airport that serves Calgary, Alberta, Canada and the surrounding region; it is situated approximately northeast of downtown Calgary...
. The airline shut down operations on June 18, 2009.
History
The genesis of Corpac Canada was in the early 1970s with Gord Peariso establishing Peariso Aviation, as an aircraft maintenance and parts supplier. His first-class maintenance facility serviced over 30 major oil companies operating their own aircraft in western Canada.In the mid-1980s Peariso Aviation acquired Corpac Canada Ltd., which represented the Piper Aircraft Corporation and sold the Piper Cheyenne turboprop aircraft across Canada.
Corpac Canada eventually acquired an aircraft and diversified into the aircraft charter business. In 1991 Corporate Express Business and Charter Airline established the first corporate shuttle service in Western Canada operating between Calgary and Edmonton for the TELUS Corporation (then AGT) using the 18 passenger British Aerospace Jetstream 32.
Over the course of the next 10 years, Corporate Express Business and Charter Airline at times included several scheduled shuttle routes and charters, as determined by customer demand for these services.
It was with the customer in mind that the SAAB 340 Airliner was acquired in the year 2000. This 30 passenger aircraft marked the millennium for Corporate Express and once again raised the standard for corporate shuttle services and charters within Western Canada.
The airline merged with Avia Aviation, and acquired a fleet of Piaggio P180 Avanti
Piaggio P180 Avanti
The Piaggio P180 Avanti is an Italian twin-engine turboprop aircraft produced by Piaggio Aero. It seats up to nine passengers in a pressurized cabin, and may be flown by one or two pilots....
aircraft in December 2005. In October 2006, an additional Saab 340
Saab 340
The Saab 340 is a discontinued Swedish two-engine turboprop aircraft designed and initially produced by a partnership between Saab and Fairchild Aircraft in a 65:35 ratio...
aircraft, that had been acquired earlier that year, enabled a number of new scheduled service routes to be added. These included Dawson Creek, British Columbia
Dawson Creek, British Columbia
Dawson Creek is a small city in northeastern British Columbia, Canada. The municipality of had a population of 11,529 in 2009. Dawson Creek derives its name from the creek of the same name that runs through the community. The creek was named after George Mercer Dawson by a member of his land...
, Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
and Grande Prairie, Alberta
Grande Prairie, Alberta
Grande Prairie is a city in the northwestern part of the province of Alberta in Western Canada. It is located on the southern edge of the Peace River Country . The city is surrounded by the County of Grande Prairie No...
.
Destinations
Corporate Express operated a shuttle service between Calgary and Fort McMurray, and services from both Calgary and Fort McMurray to southern and northern Alberta on behalf of oil companies.Corporate Express operated a scheduled air service between Calgary and Fort McMurray, Alberta.
Fleet
The Corporate Express fleet consisted of the following aircraft:- 1 Saab 340ASaab 340The Saab 340 is a discontinued Swedish two-engine turboprop aircraft designed and initially produced by a partnership between Saab and Fairchild Aircraft in a 65:35 ratio...
- 3 Piaggio P180 Avanti IIPiaggio P180 AvantiThe Piaggio P180 Avanti is an Italian twin-engine turboprop aircraft produced by Piaggio Aero. It seats up to nine passengers in a pressurized cabin, and may be flown by one or two pilots....
- 1 Saab 340BSaab 340The Saab 340 is a discontinued Swedish two-engine turboprop aircraft designed and initially produced by a partnership between Saab and Fairchild Aircraft in a 65:35 ratio...
- 2 BAe Jetstream 31