March 26, 2007:
Vancouver-based Harmony Airways announces it will suspend all scheduled service by April 9. The company, which has three planes, said it wants to explore "other opportunities," such as charters. Since its founding in 2002, Harmony's destinations have included Honolulu, Maui, Las Vegas, New York, Palm Springs, San Francisco and Toronto.
Sept. 5, 2006:
CanJet Airlines announces that it will pull out of scheduled air services. The discount airline says that as of Sunday, Sept. 10, it will focus on its charter business.
Jetsgo ceases operations, stranding 17,000 travellers and leaving more than 1,000 employees without jobs. It is the third time an airline owned by Michel Leblanc has gone under (Jetsgo, Royal Aviation and Intair).
March 9, 2005:
Air Canada reports a $15 million profit for the fourth quarter of 2004. That's up from a $768 million loss for the same quarter a year earlier.
Sept. 30, 2004:
Air Canada emerges from bankruptcy protection.
Sept. 20, 2004:
WestJet adds Los Angeles and New York to its list of destinations.
May 21, 2004:
Air Canada wins a four-month extension of its court-ordered creditor protection, a day after the airline reached a tentative cost-cutting deal with the Canadian Auto Workers. The CAW was the last of the airline's unions to agree to cost-saving measures.
May 16, 2004:
Air Canada and six of its unions reach tentative agreements to cut payroll in an effort to save the airline.
April 1, 2003: Air Canada files for bankruptcy protection.
June 20, 2002:
CanJet resumes service under a new owner.
June 12, 2002:
Jetsgo takes off. The airline reports sales of more than $2 million in its first week of selling tickets.
"We have a cost structure to be effective, profitable competition," Michel Leblanc, the airline's founder told reporters at the airline's launch in Toronto. Leblanc also founded Royal Aviation.
Nov. 9, 2001:
In a midnight news release, Canada 3000 announces that it is ceasing operations immediately.
Nov. 8, 2001:
Canada 3000 is granted creditor protection for 30 days. The company announces 1,500 layoffs.
Nov. 6, 2001:
Canada 3000 seeks government approval to shut down Royal Aviation, which it had bought earlier in the year.
May 4, 2001:
Roots Air ceases operations, citing too much competition on the routes it flew. Air Canada honours tickets issued for Roots flights after that date. It also acquires a significant piece of Roots Air's parent company, Skyservice.
April 24, 2001:
Federal government approves Canada 3000 takeover of CanJet.
March 22, 2001:
Royal Airlines shareholders approve Canada 3000 takeover bid.
Aug. 30, 2000:
Canadian Regional Airlines is taken over by Air Canada.
May 2000:
CanJet begins operations, serving mainly Eastern Canada.
Dec. 23, 1999:
Canadian Airlines is taken over by Air Canada. Canada 3000 is now the country's second largest airline.
Sept. 21, 1997:
Greyhound Air ceases operations after its parent company – Greyhound Canada – is bought by Laidlaw. The new owner wants to concentrate on ground transportation and doesn't want to run a discount airline.
Feb. 29, 1996:
WestJet opens for business as a low-cost carrier mainly serving western Canada. By 2003, it was also serving much of eastern Canada.
March 31, 1989:
The Canadian Transportation Agency approves the sale of Wardair – one of Canada's first discount airlines – to Canadian Airlines. Wardair had been operating since 1952.
1988:
Canada 3000 begins operations.
Nov. 14, 1987:
Air Transat begins operations as a charter airline, a subsidiary of Transat A T, a holiday travel company. It specialized in flying people to vacation spots – mainly in the south in the winter and to Europe in the summer.
April 1987
Canadian Pacific sells CP Airlines to Pacific Western Airlines, after several years of sporadic profits. Pacific Western names the new airline Canadian Airlines International.
