Over the years, air travel has become such a common means of transportation that new airlines have tried their hands at offering this service. But in past decades, only a few have managed to succeed and remain in business. This was due to a variety of reasons ranging from overall excellent service, steadfast reputation, and dependability. There remains three national airlines that have proved themselves over the years; Air Canada, WestJet and CanJet.

AIR CANADA

September 1, 1937 marked the first flight of then, Trans- Canada Air Lines, on a 50 minute flight between Vancouver and Seattle. By 1964, the airline had grown to form Canada’s first national airline company and changed its name to Air Canada. In 1989, the company became privatized. Today, Air Canada has become the largest, full-service Canadian airline, and is the eleventh largest commercial airline worldwide.

Headquarters for the airline is based in Montreal, Quebec running from the Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport with hubs in Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver. The airline employs approximately 24,700 full time employees, and according to records from 2008, served approximately 33 million passengers to 170 destinations on five continents. Most of Air Canada’s national flights offer two classes of service, which are Executive/Executive First Class and Economy Class. They do, but, offer a three class service on selected European flights; Executive First, Economy, and Premium Economy, The goal is to provide a more comfortable flight in the cases of longer trip times.

Over the years, Air Canada has been recognized with several awards and continues to do so by constantly looking for ways to improve the services they offer as well as upgrades to the fleet. They are also scheduling several new non-stop flights in 2009 to follow up the increase in non-stop flights added in 2008.

WESTJET

This airline has been in business for approximately twelve years now (since 1997) and has earned the reputation of being the caring and friendly airline. For the third year in a row they have been awarded the title of Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Culture by the Waterstone Human Capital. WestJet strives to keep the commitment they have made to provide safe, friendly, and affordable air travel service.

The company is the second largest carrier in Canada and based out of Calgary, Alberta. They use approximately 7500 people and the airline is unique in the fact that they are a non-unionized airline. The fleet consist of approximately 80 planes (Boeing 737′s exclusively) and they glide to 55 destinations. Their first flight departed on February 29, 1996 and the company then only consisted of 220 employees. By the end of 1997, they had served their one millionth customer.

The company has grown by leaps and bounds and is predicting that by 2016 that they will have become one of the top five most successful international airlines in the world.

CANJET AIRLINES

CanJet Airlines is a division of the IMP Group Limited, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It is Canada’s newest addition to the airline family of full-service charter flights. The small airline operates with a fleet of approximately 7, Boeing 737-800 aircraft configured to 189 seating capacity. At present they serve over 14 destinations and include coast to coast flights from Halifax to Calgary and Vancouver, nationally and several larger US cities as well, such as New York LaGuardia and Orlando, Florida. They also have several international flights available.

The airline saw its first flight in 1999 but merged with a second small airline, Canada 3000 in 2001. CanJet re-launched successfully on June 20, 2002 as an independent airline. They have an employee base of approximately 600 and have 31 flight destination based from their two hubs, Halifax and Montreal.

Of all the airlines within Canada, these are the top three competitors. Many of them have subsidiary airlines, such as Air Canada’s Jazz airline, which runs shorter runs in specific designations only. All three plot for expansion over the next few years so it will be fascinating to see how they each progress.

The Most Established Canadian Airlines | Montreal Airfare ...

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