1947 to 1987

  Canada

TYPE: Airline

IATA/ICAO CODES: ND / NDR

HEADQUARTERS: Montreal Dorval, Quebec

FORMER NAME: Boreal Airways & Mont-Laurier Aviation (merged 1947)

SUBSEQUENT NAME: Canadian Pacific Airlines (purchased 1986)

Nordair was born in 1947 from the merger of Boreal Airways and Mont-Laurier Aviation, with Fernand Henley at its helm. Operations started with charter flights, both passengers and cargo. The Canadian Government was Nordair's largest customer, chartering their aircraft for its great north exploration program.

From July 1959, Nordair entered the scheduled passenger business, linking Montreal to Frobisher Bay, Roberval, Chibougamau and Fort Chimo. By 1969, a revision in the airline's operating permit forced it to adjust its network to focus on Eastern Canada and Northwest Territories. During the 1970's and 1980's, Nordair formed an alliance with First Air and state-owned NorOntair to serve secondary destinations from Dryden, Nanisivik, Hall Beach and Frobisher Bay. By 1979, Nordair's scheduled network was at its peak, reaching as far west as Winnipeg, as far north as Resolute Bay, and as far south as Pittsburgh, PA.

By the mid-1980's, the Canadian airline market entered a merger period. In early 1986, Nordair purchased Quebecair, but it ended up being purchased by Canadian Pacific Air Lines at the end of the same year. In March 1987, Pacific Western Airlines in turn purchased Canadian Pacific and changed its name to Canadian Airlines. Nordair's jets ended up with Canadian, witle the propeller aircraft were sent to the regional subsidiary Inter-Canadian. Canadian was purchased by Air Canada in 2001.

August 1961* to September 1971*

• Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando: N9891F (for spares)
• Curtiss C-46E-1-CS Commando: CF-FBJ
• Smith Super 46C Commando:  CF-NAD, CF-NAE

  August 1961 to 1962

  CF-NAE - NORDAIR (CANADA)

August 1961

Purchased. [quoted as 1959 by PL]

  1962 to 1963

  CF-NAE - EASTERN PROVINCIAL AIRWAYS (CANADA)

1962

Leased from Nordair.

Right: this Western Models 1:200 replica shows CF-NAE in Eastern Provincial Airways colors.
Photo credit: Aviation Retail Direct

  1963 to September 1971

  CF-NAE - NORDAIR (CANADA)

1963

Returned from lease contract with Eastern Provincial Airways.

30 June 1971

Destroyed in Hall Beach, Northwest Territories, Canada in a hangar fire.

15 September 1971

Dismantled.

Below/Upper: CF-NAE at dawn, Montreal Dorval, June 1963.
Photo credit: Mel Lawrence / Airliners.net
Below/Lower: CF-NAE sporting the new Nordair livery in front of Montreal’s company hangars, September 1965.
Photo credit: Jean-Pierre Bonin / Airliners.net