View source for Nordair

{{Short description|Defunct regional airline of Canada (1947–1987)}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline         = Nordair
| logo            = File:Nordair_Logo,_January_1986.svg
| logo_size       = 200
| image          = Nordair CF-NAB.jpg
| caption        = Boeing 737-200 at the airline's base in Montreal
| IATA            = ND
| ICAO            = NDR
| callsign        = NORDAIR
| parent          =
| founded         = {{start date|1947||}}
| ceased          = {{end date|1987|03|27}}<br /><small>(merged with [[Pacific Western Airlines]] and [[Canadian Pacific Air Lines]] to form [[Canadian Airlines International]])</small>
| hubs            = {{ubl|
| {{nowrap|[[Montréal–Dorval International Airport|Montréal–Dorval]]}}
| {{nowrap|[[Montréal–Mirabel International Airport|Montréal–Mirabel]]}}
}}
| headquarters    = [[Dorval, Quebec|Dorval]], [[Montréal]], [[Quebec]]
| key_people      = Fernand “Frank” Henley, Founder and VP
| fleet_size      =
| destinations    = [[Canada]], [[United States]]
}}
'''Nordair''' was a [[Quebec]]-based airline in [[Canada]] founded in 1947 from the merger of '''Boreal Airways''' and '''Mont Laurier Aviation'''.
==History==
The airline operated from the 1940s to the 1980s. Initially, most of its business was international and transatlantic passenger and freight charters and other contracts. It also operated scheduled flights to a number of destinations in eastern Canada and the [[Northwest Territories]]. Nordair flew out of [[Montreal]]'s two airports: initially from Dorval Airport, now [[Montréal–Trudeau International Airport]], and later from [[Montréal–Mirabel International Airport]] as this latter airfield did not open until 1975. It was headquartered in Montreal with operations at [[Dorval]], [[Quebec]] and their head office at 1320 Boulevard Graham in [[Mount Royal, Quebec|Mont Royal]].<ref>''World Airline Directory''. Flight International. March 20, 1975. "[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1975/1975%20-%200559.html 495].</ref>
Nordair was operating scheduled passenger services in July 1959 utilizing [[Douglas DC-3]] and [[Douglas DC-4]] propeller aircraft with routings of Montreal - Frobisher Bay (now [[Iqaluit]]) - Cape Dyer Airport; Montreal - [[Roberval, Quebec|Roberval]] - Fort Chimo (now [[Kuujjuaq]]) - Frobisher Bay; and Montreal - [[Quebec City]] - Roberval - [[Chibougamau]].<ref name=tt07161959/>
The airline was still operating scheduled passenger flights 20 years later. According to Nordair's July 1, 1979 system timetable and route map, jet service was being operated as far west as [[Winnipeg]] and as far north as the [[Resolute Bay Airport]] in the [[Northern Canada|Canadian Arctic]] with a number of destinations in [[Ontario]] and Quebec in Canada being served including Montreal (via Dorval Airport), [[Ottawa]], [[Toronto]], Quebec City, [[Hamilton, Ontario]] and [[Windsor, Ontario]] as well as [[Pittsburgh]] in the United States, primarily with [[Boeing 737|Boeing 737-200]] jetliners but also with [[Fairchild F-27|Fairchild Hiller FH-227]] turboprop aircraft.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/nd7907.htm |title=Nordair timetable|date=July 1, 1979|access-date=December 8, 2021}}</ref> The airline was also operating scheduled passenger flights in 1975 with [[Lockheed L-188 Electra]] turboprop aircraft primarily to destinations in Quebec.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=December 8, 2021|title=Airlines and Aircraft Serving Montreal Dorval Effective April 15, 1975|url=http://www.departedflights.com/YUL75intro.html}}</ref> Nordair was continuing to operate scheduled passenger flights in 1986 primarily with Boeing 737-200 jets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timetableimages.com/i-mn/nd8604a.jpg |date=April 27, 1986|title=Nordair timetable cover|access-date=December 8, 2021}}</ref>
[[File:Fairchild Hiller FH-227B, Nordair AN1312773.jpg|thumb|left|A Fairchild Hiller FH-227B at [[Montréal–Trudeau International Airport]]]]
===Introduction of Boeing 737 jet aircraft===
The airline was operating Boeing 737-200 passenger jet service in 1969 in both scheduled and charter operations according to the June 15, 1970 Nordair system timetable which contained the following marketing message concerning its leisure charter flights: ''SUNNY HOLIDAYS - BLUE TAIL JET CHARTER FLIGHTS TO THE SUN....BARBADOS - JAMAICA - BAHAMAS - FLORIDA - MEXICO''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/nd/nd70/nd70-1.jpg |title=Nordair timetable|date=June 15, 1970|access-date=December 8, 2021}}</ref> This same timetable also lists scheduled passenger service operated by Nordair with the Boeing 737-200 between Montreal Dorval and Fort Chimo (now [[Kuujjuaq]]), Frobisher Bay (now [[Iqaluit]]), Great Whale (now [[Kuujjuarapik]]), Hamilton and Resolute.
===Merger and aftermath===
[[File:Lockheed L1049H CF-NAM Nordair MAN 02.07.66 edited-2.jpg|thumb|[[Lockheed Constellation|Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation]] of Nordair at [[Manchester Airport]] England on a freight charter in 1966. The airline was also operating the Super Constellation in scheduled passenger service in 1968 on nonstop Montreal-Frobisher Bay and Montreal-Resolute routes.<ref name=tt06021968>{{cite web|url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/nd68/ |date=June 2, 1968|title=Nordai timetable|access-date=December 8, 2021|pages=1–2}}</ref>]]
Nordair was purchased by [[Canadian Pacific Air Lines]] which had operated as CP Air. On March 27, 1987, [[Pacific Western Airlines]] purchased Canadian Pacific Air Lines and then emerged as [[Canadian Airlines]]. The jet operation was absorbed into Canadian Airlines, while the [[turboprop]] operations were absorbed into [[Inter-Canadien]]. In 2000, that airline was acquired by [[Air Canada]].
[[Intair]], a scheduled passenger airline that was based in Canada and operated jet and turboprop aircraft, used Nordair's two letter "ND" airline code for its domestic flights in eastern Canada in 1989 until it ceased operations and went out of business.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.departedflights.com/YUL89intro.html|title=December 15, 1989 Official Airline Guide (OAG), Montreal flight schedules|access-date=December 8, 2021}}</ref>
Another company called Nordair Quebec 2000 Incorporated operated in 2000 as a domestic regional carrier and cargo operator in Quebec, but the licence and licence applications for the airline were suspended in 2006 by [[Transport Canada]], and again the Nordair name disappeared from the airline industry
[[File:Nordair DC-4.jpg|thumb|Nordair DC-4 Inflight]]
==Destinations==
The following destinations in Canada were served by Nordair with scheduled passenger flights during the airline's existence:<ref name=ttall>{{cite web|url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/nd.htm |title=Nordair timetables|publisher=Time Table Images|access-date=December 8, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://theairchive.net/nordair/ |title=Nordair route map|access-date=December 8, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.airtimes.com/cgat/ca/nordair.htm |title=Nordair Timetables|publisher=AirTimes|access-date=December 8, 2021}}</ref>
===Canada===
* [[Ontario]]
** [[Dryden, Ontario|Dryden]], [[Dryden Regional Airport]]
** [[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]], [[John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport]]
** [[Kingston, Ontario|Kingston]], [[Kingston Norman Rogers Airport]]
** [[Oshawa, Ontario|Oshawa]], [[Oshawa Executive Airport]]
** [[Ottawa]], [[Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport]]
** [[Sarnia]], [[Sarnia Chris Hadfield Airport]]
** [[Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario|Sault Ste. Marie]], [[Sault Ste. Marie Airport]]
** [[Greater Sudbury|Sudbury]], [[Sudbury Airport]]
** [[Thunder Bay]], [[Thunder Bay International Airport]]
** [[Toronto]], [[Toronto Pearson International Airport|Malton Airport]]
** [[Windsor, Ontario|Windsor]], [[Windsor International Airport]]
[[File:Grumman G.73T Nordair Dorval 05.11.73 edited-3.jpg|thumb|Nordair [[Grumman G-73 Mallard]] at Montreal Dorval in 1973]]
* [[Quebec]]
** [[Raglan Mine]]s (Asbestos Hill / [[Salluit#History|Deception Bay]]), [[Kattiniq/Donaldson Airport]]
** [[La Baie|Bagotville]] (La Baie), [[CFB Bagotville|Bagotville Airport]]
** [[Chibougamau]], [[Chibougamau/Chapais Airport]]
** [[Dolbeau-Mistassini|Dolbeau]], [[Dolbeau-Saint-Félicien Airport]]
** [[Kuujjuaq]] (formerly known as Fort Chimo), [[Kuujjuaq Airport]]
** [[Kuujjuarapik|Great Whale / Poste-de-la-Baleine]] (now Kuujjuarapik), [[Kuujjuarapik Airport]]
** [[Matagami]], [[Matagami Airport]]
** [[Montreal]], [[Montréal–Mirabel International Airport]]
** [[Montreal]], [[Montréal–Trudeau International Airport]] (Dorval Airport)
** [[Quebec City]], [[Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport]]
** [[Radisson, Quebec|Radisson (La Grande)]], [[La Grande Rivière Airport]]
** [[Roberval, Quebec|Roberval]], [[Roberval Airport]]
** [[Rouyn-Noranda]], [[Rouyn-Noranda Airport]]
** [[Val-d'Or]], [[Val-d'Or Airport]]
* [[Manitoba]]
** [[Winnipeg]], [[Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport]]
* [[Nunavut]]
** [[Arctic Bay]], [[Nanisivik Airport]]
** [[Qikiqtarjuaq|Broughton Island]] (now Qikiqtarjuaq), [[Qikiqtarjuaq Airport|Broughton Island Airport]]
** [[Kinngait|Cape Dorset]] (now Kinngait), [[Cape Dorset Airport]]
** [[Qikiqtaaluk, Unorganized|Cape Dyer]], [[North Warning System#Cape Dyer|Cape Dyer Airport]]
** [[Clyde River, Nunavut|Clyde River]] / [[Cape Christian]], [[Clyde River Airport]]
** [[Coral Harbour]], [[Coral Harbour Airport]]
** [[Sanirajak|Hall Beach]] (now Sanirajak), [[Hall Beach Airport]]
** [[Igloolik]], [[Igloolik Airport]]
** [[Iqaluit|Frobisher Bay]] (now Iqaluit), [[Iqaluit Airport]]
** [[Nanisivik]], [[Nanisivik Airport]]
** [[Pangnirtung]], [[Pangnirtung Airport]]
** [[Kugaaruk|Pelly Bay]] (now Kugaaruk), [[Kugaaruk Airport]]
** [[Resolute, Nunavut|Resolute]], [[Resolute Bay Airport]]
* [[Northwest Territories]]
** [[Inuvik]], [[Inuvik (Mike Zubko) Airport]]
** [[Yellowknife]], [[Yellowknife Airport]]
[[File:Lockheed L-188C(IR) Electra, Nordair (Environment Canada - Ice Reconnaissance) AN1273945.jpg|thumb|Lockheed L-188C Electra operating as [[Environment and Climate Change Canada|Environment Canada]] ice patrol]]
===Outside of Canada===
Most of the flights to the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Mexico and Europe were charter flights, as Nordair operated only a few scheduled passenger services outside of Canada.
* North America
** [[Barbados]]
***[[Grantley Adams International Airport]]
** [[The Bahamas]]
***[[Grand Bahama]], [[Grand Bahama International Airport]]
***[[Varadero, Cuba]]
** [[Jamaica]]
** [[Mexico]]
***[[Cancún]], [[Cancún International Airport]]
** United States
*** [[Detroit]], [[Detroit Metropolitan Airport]]
*** [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida|Fort Lauderdale]] [[Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport]]
*** [[Los Angeles]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]]
*** [[Miami]], [[Miami International Airport]]
*** [[New York City]], [[John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
*** [[Omaha, Nebraska|Omaha]], [[Eppley Airfield]]
*** [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]], [[Orlando International Airport]]
*** [[Pittsburgh]], [[Pittsburgh International Airport]]
*** [[Tampa Bay area|Tampa Bay]], [[St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport]]
*** [[SeaTac, Washington]], [[Seattle–Tacoma International Airport]]
*** [[Van Nuys]], [[Van Nuys Airport]]
[[File:Nordair DC-8.jpg|thumb|Nordair Douglas DC-8 at the operations base.]]
** Europe
*** [[Amsterdam]], [[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol]]
*** [[Athens]], [[Ellinikon International Airport]]
*** [[Budapest]], [[Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport]]
*** [[Copenhagen]], [[Copenhagen Airport]]
*** [[Düsseldorf]], [[Düsseldorf Airport]]
*** [[Frankfurt]], [[Frankfurt Airport]]
*** [[Glasgow]], [[Glasgow Airport|Abbotsinch Airport]]
*** [[London]], [[Gatwick Airport]]
*** [[Manchester]], [[Manchester Airport]]
*** [[Shannon, County Clare|Shannon]], [[Shannon Airport]]
===Military contract flight services===
Nordair served as an air service contractor to the [[Canadian Armed Forces]], including ice reconnaissance missions flown with a [[Lockheed L-188 Electra]] turboprop aircraft<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.airliners.net/photo/Nordair/Lockheed-L-188C-PF-Electra/2381714 |title=Lockheed L-188C(PF) Electra - Nordair|access-date=December 8, 2021}}</ref> and [[United States Air Force]] support flights to [[Distant Early Warning Line]] stations from [[Alaska]] to [[Baffin Island]].<ref>{{cite web|archive-date=December 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220215701/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1986/1986%20-%200773.html|date=1986|page=113|publisher=Flight International|title=World Airline Directory|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1986/1986%20-%200773.html}}</ref>
==Fleet==
Nordair had the following aircraft registered by [[Transport Canada]] and listed in their timetables. Over the years they had at least 40 aircraft.
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; border-collapse:collapse"
|+ Nordair fleet
|-
!Aircraft||Number||Variants||Notes
|-
|[[Beechcraft]]||||||At least one aircraft. Not listed with Transport Canada<ref name=tt07161959/>
|-
|[[Boeing 737]]||15||[[Boeing 737#737-200|737-200]]||Gravel strip equipped, includes [[combi aircraft]]<ref name=tchistory/><ref name=combi/>
|-
|[[Cessna 150]]||1||[[Cessna 150#150K|150K]]||<ref name=tchistory/>
|-
|[[Consolidated PBY Catalina]]||||||[[Flying boat]]. At least one aircraft listed as a Canso. Not listed with Transport Canada<ref name=tt07161959/>
|-
|[[Convair CV-990]]
|2
|
|Two aircraft, N5609 and N5615 were leased from [[Modern Air Transport]] and operated on charter services
|-
|[[Curtiss C-46 Commando]]||&nbsp;||||At least one aircraft. Not listed with Transport Canada<ref name=tt07161959>{{cite web|url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/nd/nd59/nd59-2.jpg |title=Nordair timetable|date=July 16, 1959|access-date=December 8, 2021|pages=1–2}}</ref>
|-
|[[de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver]]||1||[[de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver#Beaver I|Beaver I]]||<ref name=tchistory/>
|-
|[[de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter]]||2||&nbsp;||<ref name=tchistory/>
|-
|[[de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter]]||&nbsp;||||At least one aircraft. Not listed with Transport Canada<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/nd/nd70/ |title=Nordair timetable|date=June 15, 1970|access-date=December 11, 2021|pages=1–3}}</ref>
|-
|[[Douglas C-47 Skytrain]]||||||At least one aircraft. Not listed with Transport Canada<ref name=tt07161959/>
|-
|[[Douglas DC-3]]||1||[[Douglas DC-3#DC-3C|DC-3SC]]||Former [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain]] military aircraft<ref name=tchistory/>
|-
|[[Douglas DC-4]]||&nbsp;||||At least one aircraft. Not listed with Transport Canada<ref name=tt07161959/>
|-
|[[Douglas DC-6]]||&nbsp;||[[Douglas DC-6#DC-6A|DC-6A]], [[Douglas DC-6#DC-6B|DC-6B]]||At least two aircraft. Not listed with Transport Canada<ref name=tt05031964>{{cite web|url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/nd64/ |title=Nordair timetable|date=May 3, 1964|access-date=December 10, 2021|pages=1–2}}</ref>
|-
|[[Douglas DC-8]]||1||[[Douglas DC-8#Series 50|DC-8-52]]||Operated on charter services<ref name=tchistory/>
|-
|[[Douglas DC-8 "Stretch"]]||1||[[DC-8-61]]||Operated on charter services, Reg. C-GDNA/>
|-
|[[Fairchild F-27|Fairchild FH-227]]||4||FH-227B, FH-227D, FH-227E||<ref name=tchistory/>
|-
|[[Grumman G-73 Mallard]]||&nbsp;||||At least one aircraft. Not listed with Transport Canada<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.airhistory.net/photo/198081/CF-UOT |title=Grumman G-73 Mallard, CF-UOT|access-date=December 11, 2021}}</ref>
|-
|[[Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation]]||&nbsp;||[[Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation#L-1049G|L-1049G]], [[Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation#L-1049H|L-1049H]]||At least two aircraft. Not listed with Transport Canada<ref name=tt06021968/>
|-
|[[Lockheed L-188 Electra]]||2||[[Lockheed L-188 Electra#L-188C|L-188C]]||<ref name=tchistory/>
|-
|[[Piper PA-31 Navajo]]||1||[[Piper PA-31 Navajo#PA-31 Navajo|PA-31 Navajo]]||<ref name=tchistory>{{cite web|url=https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/2/CCARCS-RIACC/RchHsRes.aspx?st=2&m=%7c%7c&cn=%7c%7c&mn=%7c%7c&sn=%7c%7c&cnn=%7cNORDAIR%7c&tn=%7c%7c&ln=%7c%7c&fn=%7c%7c&rfr2=RchHs.aspx&print=y |title=CCAR - History Search Result|date=December 8, 2021}}</ref>
|-
|[[Short SC.7 Skyvan]]||||||At least one aircraft. Not listed with Transport Canada<ref name=tt04291974>{{cite web|url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/nd/nd7404/nd7404-3.jpg |title=Nordair timetable, April 29, 1974|access-date=December 11, 2021|pages=3–4}}</ref>
|}
The [[Boeing 737]] fleet included the [[combi aircraft]] version for mixed passenger/freight operations.<ref name=combi>{{cite web|url=http://www.departedflights.com/YUL85intro.html |title= Airlines and Aircraft Serving Montreal Dorval Effective February 15, 1985|access-date=December 8, 2021}}</ref>
Nordair also operated [[de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter]] [[STOL]] capable turboprop aircraft during the early and mid 1970s in scheduled passenger service between the community of Frobisher Bay (now [[Iqaluit]]) and various local destinations in this region of the [[Canadian Arctic]].<ref name=ttall/>
Another type operated by the airline was the [[Grumman G-73 Mallard]] [[amphibious aircraft]] which had been converted with turboprop engines and was capable of landing on both land and water (see above photo).
In addition, a division of Nordair, Nordair Metro, was operating [[Convair 580]] turboprop aircraft in 1986.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.airliners.net/photo/Nordair-Metro/Convair-580/68443 |title=Convair 580 - Nordair Metro |access-date=December 8, 2021}}</ref>
==Accidents and incidents==
*On 6 February 1973, the [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain|Douglas C-47B]] CF-HTH was damaged beyond economic repair when it was hit by a vehicle at an airport in [[Montreal]].<ref name=ASN060273>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19730206-0 |title=CF-HTH Hull-loss description |publisher=Aviation Safety Network |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref>
*On 15 November 1975, Douglas C-47 C-FCSC was damaged beyond economic repair by a fire at [[La Grande Rivière Airport]], [[Radisson, Quebec]].<ref name=ASN151175>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19751115-1 |title=C-FCSC Hull-loss description |publisher=Aviation Safety Network |access-date=21 August 2010}}</ref>
*On 31 March 1977 [[Lockheed L-188 Electra]] CF-NAZ, while parked on the ramp at [[CFB Summerside]], was severely damaged when a [[Canadian Armed Forces]] [[CP-107]] (tail 10737) attempted a three-engine landing in bad weather. She was later rebuilt in Van Nuys and re-registered as C-GNDZ.
== See also ==
* [[List of defunct airlines of Canada]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
{{commons category|Nordair}}
*[http://www.airtimes.com/cgat/ca/nordair.htm Nordair]
{{Portal bar|Canada|Companies|Aviation}}
{{Defunct airlines of Canada}}
[[Category:Defunct airlines of Canada]]
[[Category:Airlines established in 1947]]
[[Category:Airlines disestablished in 1987]]
[[Category:1947 establishments in Quebec]]
[[Category:Defunct seaplane operators]]