Time Air
Encyclopedia
Time Air was an airline
in Canada
founded in 1966 by businessman Walter “Stubb” Ross
from Lethbridge
in Alberta
. It was originally called "Lethbridge Air Service" before becoming Time Air. In 1993 it was merged with Ontario Express
to create Canadian Regional Airlines
.
stopped flying out of Lethbridge in 1967. Over the next 20 years Time Air's fleet progressed from the 20-passenger DHC-6 Twin Otter
, to the 30-passenger Shorts 330
and 36-passenger Shorts 360
(both known as the "Flying Boxcar" for their boxy shape) and then tp the Dash 7
before it was standardised on the Dash 8.
The airline acquired a number of other scheduled carriers, most notably Calgary-based Southern Frontier Airlines
and Saskatoon-based Norcanair
. As a result, Time Air briefly operated other aircraft types, including a number of Convair CV- 580 and Convair CV-640 and both the Fokker F27 Friendship
and Fokker F28 Fellowship
jet. F28 operations were very successful, leading the airline to acquire a number of additional aircraft, eventually becoming the world's largest operator of the type.
Canadian Airlines International acquired a minority interest in Time Air in the late 1980s and acquired 100% ownership in January 1991. At the same time Canadian Airlines International created a holding company called Canadian Regional Airlines
to manage its investments in Time Air and other regional carriers (which included Ontario Express
and Inter-Canadien
).
In April 1993 Canadian Regional Airlines
branded the operations of Time Air and Ontario Express as "Canadian Regional Airlines." The two carriers were legally amalgamated in July 1998, using Time Air's air operator certificate. By then Inter-Canadien had become a wholly owned subsidiary of Canadian Regional Airlines, although it continued to operate as a separate brand. Canadian Regional Airlines was merged into Air Canada Jazz
in 2001, following Air Canada's acquisition of Canadian Airlines International.
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...
in 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...
founded in 1966 by businessman Walter “Stubb” Ross
Stubb Ross
Walter R. "Stubb" Ross, CM started the now-defunct airline Time Air near Lethbridge, Alberta, in 1966. He married his wife Margaret in 1953 and they had four children....
from Lethbridge
Lethbridge
Lethbridge is a city in the province of Alberta, Canada, and the largest city in southern Alberta. It is Alberta's fourth-largest city by population after Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer, and the third-largest by area after Calgary and Edmonton. The nearby Canadian Rockies contribute to the city's...
in 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...
. It was originally called "Lethbridge Air Service" before becoming Time Air. In 1993 it was merged with Ontario Express
Ontario Express
-Code data:*IATA Code: 9X*ICAO Code: OEL*Callsign: Partner-History:In January 1991, Canadian Regional Airlines was formed as a holding company to hold and manage Canadian Airlines International regional airline interests...
to create Canadian Regional Airlines
Canadian Regional Airlines
Canadian Regional Airlines was an airline headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It is now part of Air Canada Jazz.- Former Code Data :*IATA Code: KI*ICAO Code: CDR*Callsign: Canadian Regional- History :...
.
History
Time Air (ICAO Code: TAF; IATA Code: KI; Call Sign:Time Air) began with "Stubb" Ross flying the aircraft and picking up passengers from their Lethbridge homes. Time Air quickly filled a void that was left in southern Alberta when Air CanadaAir Canada
Air Canada is the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada. The airline, founded in 1936, provides scheduled and charter air transport for passengers and cargo to 178 destinations worldwide. It is the world's tenth largest passenger airline by number of destinations, and the airline is a...
stopped flying out of Lethbridge in 1967. Over the next 20 years Time Air's fleet progressed from the 20-passenger DHC-6 Twin Otter
De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
The DHC-6 Twin Otter is a Canadian 19-passenger STOL utility aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada and currently produced by Viking Air. The aircraft's fixed tricycle undercarriage, STOL abilities and high rate of climb have made it a successful cargo, regional passenger airliner and MEDEVAC...
, to the 30-passenger Shorts 330
Shorts 330
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Barnes C.H. and James Derek N. Shorts Aircraft since 1900. London: Putnam, 1989. ISBN 0-85177-819-4.* Donald, David, ed. The Encyclopedia of Civil Aircraft. London: Aurum, 1999. ISBN 1-85410-642-2....
and 36-passenger Shorts 360
Shorts 360
The Short 360 is a commuter aircraft built by Short Brothers. The Short 360 seats up to 36-39 passengers and was introduced into service in 1981. It is a larger version of the Short 330.-Development:...
(both known as the "Flying Boxcar" for their boxy shape) and then tp the Dash 7
De Havilland Canada Dash 7
The de Havilland Canada DHC-7, popularly known as the Dash 7, is a turboprop-powered regional airliner with STOL capabilities. It first flew in 1975 and remained in production until 1988 when the parent company, de Havilland Canada, was purchased by Boeing and was later sold to Bombardier...
before it was standardised on the Dash 8.
The airline acquired a number of other scheduled carriers, most notably Calgary-based Southern Frontier Airlines
Southern Frontier Airlines
Southern Frontier Airlines was an airline based in Canada which was acquired by Time Air....
and Saskatoon-based Norcanair
Norcanair
Norcanair was the name of a Canadian airline that existed from 1947 to 1987, and again briefly in the early 1990s and from 2001 to 2005.-History:...
. As a result, Time Air briefly operated other aircraft types, including a number of Convair CV- 580 and Convair CV-640 and both the Fokker F27 Friendship
Fokker F27
The Fokker F27 Friendship is a turboprop airliner designed and built by the Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker.-Design and development:Design of the Fokker F27 started in the 1950s as a replacement to the successful Douglas DC-3 airliner...
and Fokker F28 Fellowship
Fokker F28
The Fokker F28 Fellowship is a short range jet airliner designed and built by defunct Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker.-Design and development:...
jet. F28 operations were very successful, leading the airline to acquire a number of additional aircraft, eventually becoming the world's largest operator of the type.
Canadian Airlines International acquired a minority interest in Time Air in the late 1980s and acquired 100% ownership in January 1991. At the same time Canadian Airlines International created a holding company called Canadian Regional Airlines
Canadian Regional Airlines
Canadian Regional Airlines was an airline headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It is now part of Air Canada Jazz.- Former Code Data :*IATA Code: KI*ICAO Code: CDR*Callsign: Canadian Regional- History :...
to manage its investments in Time Air and other regional carriers (which included Ontario Express
Ontario Express
-Code data:*IATA Code: 9X*ICAO Code: OEL*Callsign: Partner-History:In January 1991, Canadian Regional Airlines was formed as a holding company to hold and manage Canadian Airlines International regional airline interests...
and Inter-Canadien
Inter-Canadien
Inter-Canadien was a Canadian airline headquartered in Montreal, Quebec.- History :Inter-Canadien traces its roots back to Quebecair, which was founded in 1949. Quebecair grew to become a second tier regional airline, operating BAC One-Eleven jets and Fokker F27 Friendship turboprops on routes...
).
In April 1993 Canadian Regional Airlines
Canadian Regional Airlines
Canadian Regional Airlines was an airline headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It is now part of Air Canada Jazz.- Former Code Data :*IATA Code: KI*ICAO Code: CDR*Callsign: Canadian Regional- History :...
branded the operations of Time Air and Ontario Express as "Canadian Regional Airlines." The two carriers were legally amalgamated in July 1998, using Time Air's air operator certificate. By then Inter-Canadien had become a wholly owned subsidiary of Canadian Regional Airlines, although it continued to operate as a separate brand. Canadian Regional Airlines was merged into Air Canada Jazz
Air Canada Jazz
Jazz Aviation LP is a Canadian regional airline based at Halifax Stanfield International Airport in Enfield and Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chorus Aviation....
in 2001, following Air Canada's acquisition of Canadian Airlines International.
Fleet
- DHC-6 Twin OtterDe Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin OtterThe DHC-6 Twin Otter is a Canadian 19-passenger STOL utility aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada and currently produced by Viking Air. The aircraft's fixed tricycle undercarriage, STOL abilities and high rate of climb have made it a successful cargo, regional passenger airliner and MEDEVAC...
- Short 330
- Short 360
- Dash 7De Havilland Canada Dash 7The de Havilland Canada DHC-7, popularly known as the Dash 7, is a turboprop-powered regional airliner with STOL capabilities. It first flew in 1975 and remained in production until 1988 when the parent company, de Havilland Canada, was purchased by Boeing and was later sold to Bombardier...
- Dash 8
- Convair CV-580
- Convair CV-640
- Fokker F27 FriendshipFokker F27The Fokker F27 Friendship is a turboprop airliner designed and built by the Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker.-Design and development:Design of the Fokker F27 started in the 1950s as a replacement to the successful Douglas DC-3 airliner...
- Fokker F28 FellowshipFokker F28The Fokker F28 Fellowship is a short range jet airliner designed and built by defunct Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker.-Design and development:...