Canadian Regional Operators

Canada has a rich history of bush flying and had for a long time a selection of third tier operators using small commuter types like the DHC-6. This genealogy only covers the Southern deregulated region and not the essential air services regulated region. With deregulation looming the new Canadian Airlines International was quick to setup regional commuter agreements with several existing airlines like Time Air, Norcanair and Calm Air whilst its absorption of Nordair Metro and the remains of Quebecair created Inter Canadien. Air Canada was relatively slow with only Air Ontario / Austin Airways joining its express network. This meant it had to start up its own regional feeders like Air BC, Air Nova and Air Alliance whilst Canadian only needed to start the Eastern Air Atlantic. By 1987 only City Express was still independent and they folded four years later. Gradually the commuters consolidated until the 2001 Canadian / Air Canada merger left almost all of them effectively merged under the Air Canada Jazz name. Subsequently with the sale of Jazz, Air Canada has diversified its regionals with three other small operaters now operating alongside Jazz Air as Air Canada Express. Competition exists in this space primarily from Porter Airlines which has found a niche operating out of Toronto City airport.