Transair (Canada)

Transair was a regional airline based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, operating from 1968 to 1979. Formed from the merger of Trans Canada Airlines' northern routes and regional carriers Midwest Airlines and Western Wings, Transair primarily served communities in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and the Northwest Territories, connecting them with larger centres. The airline operated a mixed fleet of aircraft, including Boeing 737s, Vickers Viscounts, and various turboprop types suited to the challenging conditions of northern Canadian airfields. Key routes connected Winnipeg to communities such as Churchill, Rankin Inlet, and Yellowknife. In 1979, Transair was acquired by Pacific Western Airlines (PWA), marking the end of its independent existence and its integration into a larger regional carrier that would eventually become Canadian Airlines International. Transair played a vital role in providing essential air transportation to remote and isolated communities in Canada's north.