CP Air, once a major Canadian airline, might not be as well-remembered today, however, its history is an integral part of Canada’s aviation legacy.
Operating from 1942 to 1987, CP Air is now one of Canada’s defunct airlines, having been overshadowed by its larger competitor, Air Canada, or Trans-Canada Air Lines at the time. Over the years, the airline grew from a small regional carrier into an international airline, opening routes across the Pacific, Europe, and South America.
Here’s a look at the rise and fall of CP Air.
Canadian Pacific Air Lines was first formed back in 1942, when the Canadian Pacific Railway Company (CPR) purchased ten smaller bush airlines, including Ginger Coote Airways, Southern Air Transport, Arrow Airways, and Prairie Airways.
Canadian Pacific Air Lines Curtis C-46 at Edmonton’s Municipal Airport in 1959. Photo: Gordon Hunter/Wikimedia Commons.
Canadian Pacific Air Lines slowly began flying routes that were often overlooked, and competed against the government-backed Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA), despite several attempts to merge. The airline was headquartered at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C.
Under the leadership of bush pilot and businessman Grant McConachie, the first president of Canadian Pacific Air Lines, the carrier soon expanded its services. In 1949, the airline secured landing rights at the Tokyo and Hong Kong airports, which opened up the doors to its transpacific service to Australia, Asia, and the South Pacific.
By the early 1950s, the airline was operating flights to international destinations such as Sydney, Auckland, Lima, and Buenos Aires.
By 1956, Canadian Pacific Air Lines expanded its services to Amsterdam. The airline’s fleet also grew with the acquisition of more advanced aircraft, including the Canadair North Star, Douglas DC-4, and Douglas DC-6B.
Despite this, the Canadian government continued to impose regulations on where the airline could fly, as Trans-Canada Air Lines was favored on many routes. CPA was even barred from flying on traditional routes including London and Paris, and was limited in servicing North American routes like Vancouver to Toronto and Toronto to New York.
Canadian Pacific Airlines Douglas DC-8-43 in 1968. Photo: Christian Volpati/Wikimedia Commons.
Despite its successes, the airline was not immune to tragedy. On March 4, 1966, Canadian Pacific Air Lines Flight 402 struck the approach lights and a seawall during a landing at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan.
The aircraft involved in the incident was a McDonnell Douglas DC-8-43, and of the 62 passengers and 10 crew members, only eight passengers survived.
In 1968, the airline faced a major transformation when it was rebranded from Canadian Pacific Airlines to CP Air. The branding reflected the airline’s position within the broader Canadian Pacific Ltd., which also included CP Hotels, CP Transport, CP Ships, and later, CP Rail.
Canadian Pacific Airlines Douglas DC-8-53 CF-CPM at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in 1972. Photo: Ralf Manteufel/Wikimedia Commons.
CP Air’s new name was accompanied by a fresh livery, which featured a combination of orange, red, and silver that soon made the airline’s aircraft instantly recognizable.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the airline witnessed further expansion. In 1986, the airline became the first North American carrier to offer a non-stop flight to China, with a weekly route to Shanghai.
CP Air Boeing 737 on the apron at Toronto International Airport in 1970. Photo: City of Toronto Archives.
Towards the end of the decade, the airline faced significant financial issues, especially with increased competition from Air Canada.
CP Air Boeing 737-217 at San Fransisco International Airport in 1983. Photo: Eduard Marmet/Wikimedia Commons.
In an attempt to reinvent itself, CP Air went back to its original name, Canadian Pacific Air Lines in 1986, with a new logo and blue colour scheme.
In 1987, Canadian Pacific Air Lines was sold to Calgary-based Pacific Western Airlines (PWA) for $300 million, with the latter assuming the airline’s debt of $600 million.
That same year, the merger resulted in the creation of Canadian Airlines International (CAI), which continued to operate for several more years until it was eventually merged into Air Canada in 2000, and officially completed by 2001.
