Air Ontario

Air Ontario was a Canadian regional airline headquartered in London, Ontario. Its corporate and operating history began with Great Lakes Airlines, a carrier formed in 1958 in Sarnia. Great Lakes initially provided limited scheduled service between Sarnia and Toronto, later expanding its Ontario network with larger piston aircraft and turboprops. The company moved its headquarters to London in 1977 and broadened its activities through the acquisition of Flightexec, an executive-charter operator. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, it served communities including Toronto, London, Ottawa, Peterborough and Sarnia, primarily with Convair aircraft. The business adopted the Air Ontario name in the early 1980s. By the middle of that decade, the airline served a wider group of Canadian destinations and also operated routes to Cleveland and Hartford in the United States. Its fleet modernization included de Havilland Canada Dash 8 turboprops and Fokker F28 Fellowship regional jets. Air Ontario also became closely associated with Air Canada’s regional strategy. In 1986, Air Canada and Pacific Western Airlines together held a substantial shareholding in the business; following Air Ontario’s Canadian incorporation in 1987, ownership arrangements involved Air Canada and Austin Airways. Air Ontario operated Air Canada Connector services, using its own aircraft and crews while selling seats through Air Canada’s network and schedule. The carrier’s most serious historical event was the crash of Air Ontario Flight 1363 at Dryden, Ontario, on March 10, 1989. The Fokker F28 crashed shortly after takeoff on a flight from Thunder Bay through Dryden to Winnipeg. Twenty-four people died, including 21 passengers and three crew members. The accident prompted extensive scrutiny of winter operations, aircraft de-icing, cockpit procedures, company practices and regulatory oversight. Air Ontario subsequently removed its remaining F28 from service and operated as a turboprop carrier, principally with Dash 8 aircraft. Air Ontario’s role expanded after Air Canada discontinued some mainline jet services to smaller Ontario communities in 1990. The regional airline added or strengthened routes from Toronto Island and Toronto Pearson airports, including services to Montreal, Ottawa, Newark and numerous cities in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and the northeastern United States. By 2000, Toronto Pearson served as a major hub for its Air Canada Connector operation, with a substantial transborder network. The company ceased to exist as a separate airline through Air Canada’s regional consolidation. Air Ontario was amalgamated into Air Canada in December 2000. In January 2001, Air Canada Regional Inc. was established to combine Air BC, Air Nova, Air Ontario and Canadian Regional Airlines. The consolidation was completed in 2002 under the Air Canada Jazz name, ending Air Ontario’s independent corporate and brand identity.

Air Ontario’s origins lay in Great Lakes Airlines, which was established in 1958 and initially based in Sarnia, Ontario. In 1969, Great Lakes operated a limited scheduled service between Sarnia and Toronto, using Douglas DC-3 aircraft. It began acquiring Convair 440 airliners during the same period, allowing it to replace the DC-3s and extend scheduled service to additional Ontario cities, including London, Ottawa, Kitchener and Peterborough. By the middle of the 1970s, Great Lakes was experiencing financial difficulties, and its scheduled passenger network had contracted largely to the Sarnia–Toronto route. A group of Toronto businessmen, including James Plaxton, acquired an interest in the company and attracted additional capital from the DeLuce family. Great Lakes was combined with the DeLuce family’s Austin Airways operation. In 1977, the headquarters moved from Sarnia to London, Ontario, and the company acquired Flightexec Ltd., a London-based executive-charter carrier. Great Lakes continued to operate Flightexec separately while rebuilding its own scheduled network. During the late 1970s, Great Lakes again expanded service among Ontario communities. In the early 1980s its fleet was centered on Convair 580 turboprops and its scheduled network included Toronto, Ottawa, London and Sarnia. The company adopted the Air Ontario operating name by the autumn of 1981. Air Ontario Ltd. dates from 1983, while Air Ontario Inc. was incorporated in June 1987. By 1986, the airline served a larger Canadian network, including Montreal, Winnipeg, Windsor, Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury and North Bay, as well as Cleveland and Hartford in the United States. Fleet modernization and closer cooperation with Air Canada followed. Air Ontario acquired Dash 8 turboprops and Fokker F28 Fellowship jets, and it operated Air Canada Connector services under a codeshare arrangement. In 1986, Air Canada and Pacific Western Airlines together held 49 percent of Air Ontario. After the 1987 incorporation, the shareholding structure involved Air Canada and Austin Airways. By the late 1980s, Air Ontario was operating both Dash 8 aircraft and F28 jets on regional services marketed through Air Canada. One such F28 route linked Toronto with Sault Ste. Marie, while other services connected Thunder Bay, Dryden and Winnipeg. On March 10, 1989, Air Ontario Flight 1363 crashed shortly after takeoff from Dryden Regional Airport. The aircraft, a Fokker F28-1000 registered as C-FONF, was operating from Thunder Bay via Dryden to Winnipeg. Twenty-four people died, including 21 of the 65 passengers and three of the four crew members. The accident raised significant questions about aircraft contamination, de-icing, operational decision-making, crew coordination and the broader relationship between the airline and the regulator. Air Ontario removed its remaining F28 from service later in 1989 and subsequently operated with Dash 8 turboprops. Air Ontario became increasingly important to Air Canada’s regional network after Air Canada discontinued mainline jet service to several Ontario communities in February 1990. The company expanded routes from Toronto Island Airport to Montreal, Ottawa and Newark, and developed additional United States services from Toronto Pearson. During the 1990s, its Air Canada Connector network included destinations such as London, Ottawa, Sarnia, North Bay, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Timmins, Windsor, Montreal, Winnipeg, Cleveland, Hartford, Newark and Baltimore. By 2000, Air Ontario operated a broad network centered on Toronto Pearson, including many Ontario communities and a substantial number of United States destinations. Its corporate independence ended during Air Canada’s regional restructuring. Air Ontario was amalgamated into Air Canada in December 2000. Air Canada Regional Inc. was formed in January 2001 to bring together Air BC, Air Nova, Air Ontario and Canadian Regional Airlines. The consolidation was completed in 2002 with the launch of Air Canada Jazz, after which Air Ontario no longer operated as a separate airline.

• 2002

  Air Canada Jazz launches

  [1]Air Ontarioen.wikipedia.org

  The consolidation of Air Ontario with other Air Canada regional carriers was completed under the Air Canada Jazz brand.

• 2000

  Air Ontario is amalgamated into Air Canada

  [1]Air Ontarioen.wikipedia.org

  The company was amalgamated into Air Canada in December as part of the parent company’s regional consolidation.

• 1990

  Regional network expands after Air Canada route changes

  [1]Air Ontarioen.wikipedia.org

  Following Air Canada’s withdrawal of mainline jet service from several Ontario communities, Air Ontario increased its regional role and added routes from Toronto Island and Toronto Pearson.

• 1989

  Flight 1363 crashes at Dryden

  [2]Air Ontario Flight 1363en.wikipedia.org

  An Air Ontario F28 crashed shortly after takeoff from Dryden, killing 24 people and prompting major scrutiny of Canadian winter-flight safety practices.

• 1988

  Fokker F28 jets enter service

  [1]Air Ontarioen.wikipedia.org

  Air Ontario introduced Fokker F28 Fellowship aircraft alongside Dash 8 turboprops for Air Canada Connector operations.

• 1987

  Air Ontario Inc. is incorporated

  [1]Air Ontarioen.wikipedia.org

  Air Ontario Inc. was incorporated, with Air Canada and Austin Airways holding shares under the new structure. The airline operated Air Canada Connector services.

• 1986

  Air Canada and Pacific Western acquire a major shareholding

  [1]Air Ontarioen.wikipedia.org

  Air Canada and Pacific Western Airlines together acquired 49 percent of Air Ontario, deepening the carrier’s connection with the Canadian regional airline system.

• 1983

  Air Ontario Ltd. established

  [1]Air Ontarioen.wikipedia.org

  The Air Ontario corporate structure was established as Air Ontario Ltd.

• 1981

  Air Ontario operating name adopted

  [1]Air Ontarioen.wikipedia.org

  The carrier was operating under the Air Ontario name while continuing regional service with Convair 580 turboprops.

• 1977

  Headquarters move to London

  [1]Air Ontarioen.wikipedia.org

  Great Lakes moved its headquarters from Sarnia to London, Ontario, and acquired Flightexec Ltd.

• 1969

  Great Lakes expands scheduled Ontario service

  [1]Air Ontarioen.wikipedia.org

  The airline began replacing DC-3 aircraft with Convair 440 airliners and extended scheduled service beyond the Sarnia–Toronto route.

• 1958

  Great Lakes Airlines is formed

  [1]Air Ontarioen.wikipedia.org

  The predecessor of Air Ontario was established in Sarnia, Ontario, beginning the corporate lineage that later became Air Ontario.

Canadian regional airline focused on connecting smaller Ontario and Canadian communities with Air Canada hubs and selected United States destinations.

• Passenger airline services · 1958

  Scheduled domestic regional passenger services

  Air Ontario’s principal offering was scheduled regional passenger transportation within Canada. The airline connected smaller Ontario communities—including London, Sarnia, Windsor, Sudbury, North Bay, Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay—with Toronto and other regional centers. Its fleet evolved from DC-3 and Convair aircraft to Fokker F28 jets and Dash 8 turboprops.

• Codeshare regional aviation · 1987

  Air Canada Connector services

  Air Ontario operated flights marketed through Air Canada Connector, serving as a feeder carrier for Air Canada’s network. The arrangement enabled Air Canada to maintain links to smaller Canadian cities and operate regional transborder routes without using mainline aircraft on every market.

• International passenger airline services · 1984

  Regional transborder services

  At different times, Air Ontario served United States destinations including Cleveland, Hartford, Newark and Baltimore, later expanding its Toronto-based transborder network to cities such as Detroit, Albany, Rochester, Syracuse and other northeastern and midwestern markets.

• Charter aviation · 1977

  Executive charter operations

  Through its association with Flightexec Ltd., the corporate group also had an executive-charter activity using twin-engine business aircraft. Flightexec continued to operate as a separate air carrier after its acquisition by Great Lakes.

• 2002

  Completion of regional carrier consolidationM&A

  Background

  Air Canada created Air Canada Regional Inc. to combine Air BC, Air Nova, Air Ontario and Canadian Regional Airlines.

  Action taken

  The consolidated regional operation adopted the Air Canada Jazz name.

  Aftermath

  Air Ontario’s brand and independent operating identity were discontinued.

  Source

• 2000

  Amalgamation into Air CanadaM&A

  Background

  Air Canada was consolidating several regional airline businesses under common ownership and management.

  Action taken

  Air Ontario was amalgamated into Air Canada in December 2000.

  Aftermath

  Air Ontario ceased to exist as a separate corporate airline and its operations moved into the broader Air Canada regional structure.

  Source

• 1989

  Remove Fokker F28 aircraft after the Dryden crashStrategy

  Background

  Air Ontario’s Fokker F28 fleet was associated with the March 1989 Dryden accident, which generated extensive safety scrutiny.

  Action taken

  The remaining F28 was withdrawn later in 1989, and the airline subsequently operated as a Dash 8 turboprop carrier.

  Aftermath

  The change simplified the fleet and marked the end of Air Ontario’s F28 jet operations.

  Source

1. 1Air Ontarioen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Air Ontario Flight 1363en.wikipedia.org