Canada 3000 - What should have been!
There have been numerous articles and books written about the turbulence of the airline industry during the last decades of the twentieth century. Of the many airline start ups and casualties, there is one airline in Canada that was finding a niche and would have been a success story if not for tragic events of September 11, 2001.
Canada 3000 was modelled after British airline Air 2000 and began operation in May 1989. When Canadian Airlines acquired Wardair, Canada 3000 was poised to take over the charter airline market in Canada and would later became the largest charter airline in the world. At its peak, it operated a fleet of 51 aircraft to over 90 destinations worldwide.
After years of stability and steady growth, Canada 3000 went public in 2000 and began to implement some ambitious expansion plans. They acquired Royal Airlines’ charter and cargo operations and then CanJet Airlines in 2001. They became the first airline to operate non-stop service from North America to India. Taking on the additional debt seemed like a reasonable risk because the future certainly looked bright for this well managed airline; until the world changed.
Overnight, bookings dropped by over 50% and within a few months the airline was forced to cease operation. Although there may have been options available and the decision to close remains open to controversy, it is tragic that a success story ended in this manner.
The cargo division emerged to become Cargojet Airways under former exec Ajay Virmini and former CEO, Robert Deluce, went on the form Porter Airlines. Both airlines have found success within their niche markets. 
We would love to hear from any former employees of Canada 3000 if anyone wishes to share their memories.
Pictured at right is a Boeing 757-200 under registration G-OOOA in Canada 3000 livery. Planespotters.net lists this aircraft as presently registered as G-GIAJ and in the Cargojet fleet.
Terry Baker found this article on the avweb site -
Connecticut Honors Whitehead's 'First Flight'
The State of Connecticut has stepped into the simmering controversy over who was actually the first to take a controlled, powered flight by honoring a native son who some believe beat the Wright brothers by two years.
Gustave Whitehead will be honored by state officials in Bridgeport August 14 on the 116th anniversary of what some believe was a half-mile flight at 50 feet in nearby Fairfield. The honor is likely to reignite the debate over Whitehead’s alleged flight, which had a lot of witnesses but no photographic proof, only an artist’s rendering in a local newspaper.
The governments of North Carolina and Ohio both consider themselves the crucible of aviation, North Carolina because of the Kitty Hawk flight, Ohio because it’s where the Wrights did all the construction and development work.
(Source: avweb August 2017)
Our cartoon is from the "Between Ourselves" magazine issue June 1961 by Dave Mathias. The caption reads " Electronic reservations system or not, we've one oversale who won't be satisfied with punching a blown transistor on the nose!"
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Here is their timetable effective February 24th, 1975. (from the David Zekria collection) |
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Indian airline offers "women flyer" service. An Indian airline is taking a stand on chivalry by offering a special "Women Flyer" service to make solo female passengers feel more comfortable in a country where sexual harassment is rife. Vistara airline says women using the complimentary service will always get assigned to an aisle or window seat - never a middle - and will be offered help with luggage and ground transportation. "This service is a sincere effort to ensure peace of mind for our female customers", Vistara added. The New Delhi based carrier says between 75 and 100 passengers use the service daily and hops to extend the service to its international flights. Street harassment, known as "Eve teasing" is common in India. The U.S. State Department has warned female passengers against travelling alone in the country. (Source: Vancouver Sun 5/8/2017) |
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In 1962, 40 members of the Abbotsford Flying Club collected $700.00 to put on the first Abbotsford International Air Show which attracted 15,000 spectators. (Source Vancouver Sun) |
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Flying bikes.
While it might look like the outcome of something that went wrong in the factory, the two-seat Radical STOL kit plane is actually offered with an optional underwing fitting to carry bikes. (Source: Flight International August 2017) |
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The days of passengers arriving at their destination without their luggage, as it had been sent in the opposite direction, may soon be over. This from IATA - “Resolution 753” may not seem like something the average passenger would be interested in, but it will have a significant impact on something travellers care about: keeping tabs on their bags. The IATA mandate for airlines to track a passenger’s checked baggage at every step of the air travel journey, which will take effect in June 2018, is pushing airlines around the world to invest in and upgrade their baggage handling systems. (Source: atwonline July 25/17). |
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The Stratolaunch aircraft, built by Scaled Composites in powered by six PW4000 engines and is 117m (385ft) wingspan. Trials of the air-launch system are due in 2019. (Source: Flight International Magazine June 14/2017) |
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Jim Griffith has sent us this information - The Ottawa Airport Authority just recently announced that they were closing a long-standing airplane spotter's perch close to the threshold of YOW's Runway 32, a place where folks, families and aerogeeks have been coming for as long as Runway 32 has existed. The closure was due to other less scrupulous people abusing the place by throwing litter, dumping garbage bags and other trash under the approach to this wonderful spot. Jerks. The YOW people had no option but to close it down for safety reasons with strong winds often blowing FOD high into the glide path. Others were off-roading under the approach, leaving furniture and dumping chemicals. Jerks. These nincompoops, these knuckleheaded abusers, managed, as nincompoops always do, to ruin it for everyone else—people who loved to spend an hour or so out in the sun and the fresh air watching airplanes; families who could entertain excited kids for no cost at all. Click Here for the full article |
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CHORUS AVIATION had C$40.8m net income for 2Q17 (vs $23.7m in 2Q16) on 7.5% higher revenues. It says its newly formed aircraft leasing unit has acquired 17 aircraft to increase fleet total to 54 that includes 39 under lease in Air Canada's CPA. (Source: SpeedNews Aug 2017) |
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The Vancouver Interline Club held their 50th anniversary at the Richmond Curling Club on May 5th 2017, attended by approximately 140 people. Several came from far away....England, Germany, Iceland....some closer; from Vancouver Island, B.C., Winnipeg, some from U.S...Las Vegas, Washington D.C. and of course many locals. The idea of an interline club in Vancouver was conceived in 1952 with a few interested airline parties. The club became a legal entity in 1964 with 30 members and the Club was formed on February 28th, 1967 at the Newsman's Club in Vancouver with representatives from 12 airlines who operate into and out of Vancouver. |
 We have this photo of the organizing committee, unfortunately, no names were provided. |
 This photo is of the past presidents, again, no identifications. |
