-
Period: to
Canada's Major Airlines: A Timeline
-
1937: Trans-Canada Airlines (TCA) begins. The company is owned by Canadian National Railways (CNR)1937
-
1942: CNR's Major competitor, Canadian Pacific, starts Canadian Pacific Airlines
-
TCA changes its name to Air Canada
-
Canadian Pacific, Eastern Provincial, Nordair, and Pacific Western amalgamate to form Canadian Airlines
-
1996: Westjet begins, with flights to major Canadian cities and 11 U.S. destinations. It is unique in the industry: employees are on profit sharing and not unionized.
-
2000: Canadian Airlines is acquired by Air Canada
-
2002: Air Canada sues Westjet for damages caused by Westjet's corporate espionage.
-
2002: JetsGo is launched
-
2004: Westjet admits to espionage; pays Air Canada's $5 million legal costs and donates $10 million to children's charities in Air Canada and WestJet's names.
-
2005: Jetsgo shuts down without warning, stranding 17000 passengers