Wardair
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| Founded | 1952 | ||||||
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| Ceased operations | 1989 (acquired by Canadian Airlines) | ||||||
| Frequent-flyer program | defunct (formerly Reward) | ||||||
| Alliance | none | ||||||
| Fleet size | 30+ | ||||||
| Destinations | 26 | ||||||
| Headquarters | Edmonton, Alberta | ||||||
| Key people | Max Ward | ||||||
| Website | None | ||||||
Wardair Canada was a privately run Canadian airline, founded by Max Ward in 1952 under the name Wardair Ltd, before formally changing its name to "Wardair Canada" in 1976. The airline was acquired by and folded into Canadian Airlines in 1989.
In 1946 Maxwell W. Ward founded the Polaris Charter Company at Yellowknife. In 1952 the airline was formed as Wardair and operations began on 6 June 1953 using a single engine de Havilland Canada Otter. In 1962 it entered the trans-atlantic charter market and changed its name to Wardair Canada Ltd. On 1 January 1976 the name was changed to Wardair Canada (1975) Ltd and yet again on 10 June 1977 to Wardair International Ltd.
Wardair provided domestic service in Quebec, Manitoba, Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta, as well as international service to Europe, the United States, and several Caribbean and South American countries. On March 31, 1989, the Canadian Transportation Agency approved the sale of Wardair to Canadian Airlines International.
Wardair had its roots in the air charter business in the Yukon and the Northwest Territories. From a modest start as Polaris Charter Company in the mid 1940s operating small biplanes such as the de Havilland Fox Moth (model DH-83C) with service as a passenger and cargo charter company, the airline expanded into the more populous regions of Canada and was transformed into a holiday charter airline, from 1962 onwards. Wardair was not a discount airline but an airline providing good service at lower-than-average prices. They were known for high quality meals and friendly staff. "Steak & Champagne" flights was a popular advertising tag line in the 1980s, and won various awards from magazines for their service (Holiday Which? magazine charter airline of the year 1985, and scheduled carrier of the years 1986 and 1987). Flight attendants served food on Wardair branded Royal Doulton china on tray-table tablecloths on the passenger tray. The seats featured generous pitch.
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