note
Founded as air taxi operations to support mining and forestry industries by Russell "Russ" Baker in Fort St. James. Pacific Western Airlines name was introduced in 1953 after CBCA absorbed half a dozen other air taxi operations in the pacific west and north. Pacific Western started scheduled service in 1955 and in 1963 introduced revolutionary concept of "Airbus" shuttle between Edmonton and Calgary. Passengers would show up at the stairs of an airplane (DC-4 was used) and hand luggage to the porter who loaded it in the cargo hold. Fare was collected en-route.
In 1967 Boeing 707 joined the fleet for inclusive tours work to Hawaii and Mexico. In summer months leisure flights to Europe were operated. PWA also acquired pure cargo version of a 707 and launched worldwide cargo flights.
Year later, Boeing 737 was put into scheduled service on its domestic network. Between 1974 and 1983 PWA was owned by Alberta Government. In 1979 PWA acquired Transair of Winnipeg extending its network to Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
In December 1986 PWA shareholders agreed to purchase CP Air. Official merger happened in February 1st 1987 with all operations transferred by April 1987 when both CP Air and PWA ceased to exist being replaced by Canadian Airlines.
founded - demised (age)
1946 - April 1987 (41)
headquarters
, Calgary, Alberta
web
base airports
related operators
current /stored fleet (0)
