Air Nova was a Canadian regional airline wholly owned by Air Canada, operating as a feeder carrier primarily in Eastern Canada and the Northeastern United States. Established in 1986, it was headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and played a significant role in connecting smaller communities to Air Canada's main hubs.
Throughout its existence, Air Nova operated under the "Air Canada Commuter" brand, providing essential regional air services. Its fleet primarily consisted of Dash 8 turboprop aircraft (including the Dash 8-100 and Dash 8-300 series) and, for a period, BAe 146 jet aircraft, allowing it to serve a diverse range of routes, including those with shorter runways.
The airline's operations were integral to Air Canada's network expansion in the regional market during the late 20th century. However, as part of Air Canada's efforts to streamline its regional operations and achieve greater efficiencies, Air Nova ceased independent operations in 2001. It was merged along with Air Ontario and Canadian Regional Airlines to form Air Canada Jazz, which later became Jazz Aviation LP, continuing to operate regional flights for Air Canada.