Air BC
 | |
| Founded | 1980 |
|---|---|
| Commenced operations | 1980 |
| Ceased operations | 2002 |
| Parent company | Air Canada |
| Headquarters | Richmond, British Columbia, Canada |
Air BC was an airline headquartered in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.[1] It is now part of Air Canada Jazz. This regional airline primarily flew turboprop aircraft but also operated jets as well as an Air Canada Connector carrier on behalf of Air Canada via a code share feeder agreement.
History
Air BC was established in 1980 after the merger (by the Jim Pattison Group) of a number of west coast domestic airlines: Canadian Air Transit, Flight Operation, Gulf Air Aviation, Haida Airlines, Island Airlines, Ominecca Air, Pacific Coast Air Services and West Coast Air Services. A combined fleet emerged, including de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otters with some Twin Otters being operated as float planes. In 1983, DHC-7 Dash 7 aircraft were delivered and then in 1986 DHC-8 Dash 8-100 aircraft were acquired.
In 1987, Air Canada purchased 85% of Air BC, and Air BC became an Air Canada regional partner operating as Air Canada Connector. Air BC entered the jet age in 1988 with British Aerospace BAe 146-200 aircraft which was the only jetliner type ever operated by the air carrier. In 1994, the airline was operating British Aerospace Jetstream 31 turboprops as part of their Air Canada Connector code share feeder services. In March 1995, Air Canada purchased the remaining shares. DHC-8 Dash 8-300 aircraft were introduced as well.
In January 2001, a newly merged carrier called Air Canada Regional Inc was established. A wholly owned subsidiary of Air Canada, this company combined the individual strengths of five regional airlines – Air BC, Air Nova, Air Ontario, Air Alliance and Canadian Regional Airlines. Consolidation of these five companies was completed in 2002 and was marked by the launch of a new name and brand: Air Canada Jazz.
Destinations
Air BC served the following destinations in the fall of 1991 in Canada and the U.S. according to the Air BC - Air Canada Connector November 3, 1991 system timetable route map.[2]
- Calgary, Alberta
- Campbell River, British Columbia
- Castlegar, British Columbia
- Comox, British Columbia
- Cranbrook, British Columbia
- Dawson Creek, British Columbia
- Edmonton, Alberta
- Fort McMurray, Alberta
- Grande Prairie, Alberta
- Kamloops, British Columbia
- Kelowna, British Columbia
- Lethbridge, Alberta
- Lloydminster, Alberta
- Medicine Hat, Alberta
- Nanaimo, British Columbia
- Penticton, British Columbia
- Portland, Oregon
- Powell River, British Columbia
- Prince George, British Columbia
- Prince Rupert, British Columbia
- Quesnel, British Columbia
- Regina, Saskatchewan
- Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
- Seattle, Washington
- Terrace, British Columbia
- Vancouver, British Columbia
- Victoria, British Columbia
- Williams Lake, British Columbia
- Winnipeg, Manitoba
By 1999, Air BC had expanded its Air Canada Connector service and was flying BAe 146-200 jet service nonstop between Edmonton and Denver, Colorado.[3]
Fleet
- British Aerospace BAe 146-200 - only jet aircraft type operated by Air BC
- British Aerospace BAe Jetstream 31
- de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
- de Havilland Canada DHC-7 Dash 7
- de Havilland Canada DHC-8-100 Dash 8 (series 100 standard version)
- de Havilland Canada DHC-8-300 Dash 8 (series 300 stretched version)
References
- ↑ "World Airline Directory." Flight International. March 30, 1985. 34." Retrieved on June 17, 2009. "Head Office: 4680 Cowley Crescent, Richmond, British Columbia V7B 1C1, Canada"
- ↑ http://www.airtimes.com/cgat/ca/aibc.htm
- ↑ http://www.departedfligthts.com, June 1, 1999 Official Airline Guide (OAG), Denver-Edmonton flight schedules
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Air BC. |
