note
Founded by Canadian Pacific Railroad by combining dozen small local FBOs to compete with emerging mode of transportation across the continent. After World War II CP Air converted surplus Douglas C-47s and begun domestic service in Canada. Breakthrough came in 1949 when CP Air was granted rights to operate flights between Canada, Australia and Far East. Canadair C-4 were purchased and flights to Hong Kong and Sydney from Vancouver commenced. In 1953 first flight to Latin America was inaugurated when Mexico City and later Lima were served from Vancouver. CP Air utilized Douglas DC-6s on these routes. In 1958 Amsterdam was added to the network and CP Air became global carrier. CP Air pioneered transpolar route to Europe. Airlines first jet was De Havilland Comet, delivered in March 1953. Unfortunately it crashed on its delivery flight causing bad publicity forcing CP to cancel its Comet order. Not until January 1961, when first Douglas DC-8 was delivered, did CP Air operated another jet aircraft. Airline adopted its most famous orange c/s in 1968 and did not change it until its demise. The colors represented those of its owner CP Railroad. CP Air became respected intercontinental carrier. First wide-body a Boeing 747 was delivered in 1973. CP Air also operated extensive domestic network throughout Canadian western provinces and flights to USA using Boeing 737s and DC-10s and DC-8s. Airline was loosing money throughout most of 1980s and in March 1987 CP Railroad sold it to Pacific Western Airlines which merged its operations with those of CP Air's and formed new airline called Canadian Airlines. Canadian Airlines was acquired in 2000 by Air Canada - long time rival of CP Air.
founded - demised (age)
January 13 1942 - April 1987 (45)
headquarters
, Vancouver, BC
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base airports
related operators
current /stored fleet (0)
