Airline Counter: 34
Kalitta Air
Kalitta Air, one of the largest US Cargo airlines, dates to 1967 as Connie Kalitta Services, a single-plane cargo operation. By 1984, the airline had grown into American International Airways (AIA), flying cargo and passenger services, in addition to serving in the US’s involvement in the Middle East (for which it won awards). AIA faced financial challenges throughout the remainder of the 1900s, briefly merged with Kitty Hawk Inc in 1997, and eventually ceased operations in 2000. The company’s original founder, Conrad Kalitta, resurrected the airline as the modern Kalitta Air that same year.
Above is a Boeing 747-400F (N712CK) arriving at Toronto Pearson (YYZ) from Anchorage Ted Stevens International Airport (ANC)
LATAM Airlines
LATAM airlines, now Latin America’s largest airline, was founded in 2012 following the merger of LAN Airlines (Chile’s flag carrier, founded 1929) and TAM Airlines (Brazil’s flag carrier, originating in 1961) and now serves as a pan-national carrier for much of South America’s population. For decades, TAM was the result of the consolidation of many smaller Brazilian airlines - including Taxi Aéreo Marília, Transportes Aéreos Regionais, VASP (Brazil's original flag carrier), Transportes Aéreos Meridionais - finally into TAM Linhas Aeneas (inspired bu Helisul Linas Aéeras, a Brazilian airline acquired in 1996.
Above is a Boeing 777-300ER (PT-MUF) arriving at London Heathrow (LHR) from São Paulo (GRU)
Atlas Air
Atlas Air was founded in 1992, leasing aircraft to airlines seeking additional cargo capacity. By the late 1990s, Atlas Air committed to multiple 747-400F and, in the 2000s, 747-8F orders, growing their fleet into what is now the world’s largest 747 fleet (due in part to its rapid retirement from commercial service). Atlas Air also acquired Polar Air Cargo and Southern Air, helping to grow its fleet further. In 2024, Yun Express, a Chinese logistics company, announced a partnership with Atlas Air, which would see Atlas Air operate 777F freighters for Yun Express, the latest in a series of international partnerships.
Above is a Boeing 777F (N704GT) (operated by Atlas Air for Yun Express) arriving at Toronto Pearson from Anchorage Ted Stevens International Airport (ANC)
Air Canada
Air Canada was founded in 1937 as Trans Canada Air Lines (TCA), then a subsidiary of the Canadian National Railroad (CNR) under a federal mandate to provide Canada with a flag carrier. The company rebranded to "Air Canada" in 1965; however, serving a bilingual country, it has always been "Air Canada” in French. In 2001, Air Canada acquired Canadian Airlines, then Canada's second largest airline, a major blow to competition in the Canadian aviation market. Air Canada’s updated livery seen here was launched with the airline's 80th anniversary and Canada's sesquicentennial since Confederation in 2017.
Above is a Boeing 787-9 (C-FNOI) arriving at Toronto Pearson (YYZ) from Dublin Airport (DUB)
Air Canada Cargo
Air Canada Cargo is as old as its parent, with the first flight of Trans Canada Airlines (TCA) in 1937 carrying mail between Vancouver and Seattle. TCA began official cargo flights in the 1950s, rebranded to Air Canada in 1965, and waited until 1977 to establish Air Canada Cargo officially. They operated dedicated cargo aircraft and leveraged the cargo hold on commercial flights. By the 1990s, Air Canada Cargo was withdrawn, although freight was still carried on commercial flights. In 2020, Air Canada Cargo was re-launched with dedicated Boeing 767 aircraft (retired Air Canada passenger aircraft).
Above is a Boeing 767-300(ER) (C-FTCA) arriving at Toronto Pearson (YYZ) from Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
FedEx Express
FedEx Express, then Federal Express, launched in 1973, and quickly grew to dominate the American - and arguably global - air freight industry, now the largest cargo airline in the world. The company operates a mammoth fleet of more wide-body, civil aircraft than most airlines in the world, freight or commercial, with destinations to almost every country on Earth. Furthermore, with over 11 million pounds of air freight moved daily, FedEx has an aircraft landing roughly every 40 seconds. Additionally, FedEx was the launch customer of the Boeing 777-F in the US and its largest operator.
Above is a McDonnell Douglas MD-11F (N607FE) arriving at Toronto Pearson (YYZ)
Air Transat
Air Transat was founded in 1986 with flights a year later, and it is currently the only major Canadian Airline founded in Quebec and the third largest airline in Canada. The company provides seasonal routes to southern destinations during the Canadian winter and transitions to mainly European destinations during the summer. It has rapidly increased its presence overseas, helped by the addition of 19 Airbus A321LRs. Today, Air Transat has earned its positive reputation, being dubbed the World's Best Leisure Airline in 2018 by the Skytrax Airline Awards and receiving similar recognition elsewhere.
Above is an Airbus A321LR (C-GOJC) arriving at Toronto Pearson (YYZ)
Air Canada Rouge
Air Canada Rouge, a subsidiary of Air Canada, was founded in 2011 to directly compete with Canada's other low-cost leisure airlines, like Air Transat, Sunwing, and Westjet (and later Flair, Lynx, Porter, and Swoop). With destinations as far away as Osaka, Japan, Europe, and South America, rouge operates over 60 aircraft - a 15 fold increase compared to its initial 4 planes. Interestingly, the name "Rouge" was chosen by a public naming contest, with citizens calling it very Canadian and easy to remember in both of Canada's official
Above is an Airbus A321-200 (C-GHQI) arriving at Toronto Pearson (YYZ)
JetBlue
JetBlue was founded in 1999 as NewAir, a low-cost carrier with a single aircraft fleet based on the A320. This was to provide significantly improved operational costs and allow the company to compete with the US’s already bustling low fare market. However, the airline sought to attract new customers by providing amenities (like entertainment systems) typically excluded from the low-cost market. In its first decade, JetBlue expanded rapidly despite financial challenges, and this continued in the early 2020s, using a new fleet of A321LRs to finally inaugurate direct flights between the US and Europe.
Above is an Airbus A321LR (N4076J) named “Follow Your Mintuition" arriving at London Heathrow (LHR) from New York (JFK)
Caribbean Airlines
Caribbean Airlines is the national airline of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica and the largest airline of the Caribbean islands. Launching in 2007, Caribbean Airlines superseded the country’s previous carrier, BWIA (British West Indian Airlines), which had operated in the Caribbean since 1937. The then new livery included a hummingbird on the tail, serving as a nod to Trinidad's recognition as the "land of the hummingbird". The design also presents the flag of CARICOM, a political organization uniting many Caribbean countries next to the flag of Trinidad and Tobago at the rear of the fuselage.
Above is a Boeing 737-800 (9Y-ANU) arriving at Toronto Pearson (YYZ) from Port of Spain Piarco International Airport (POS)
WestJet
Westjet, Canada’s second largest airline, was established in 1994 following the low cost model pioneered in the US. The airline expanded across Canada, helped by the demise of Canadian Airlines, absorbed by Air Canada in 2001. By 2015, WestJet acquired its first wide-body aircraft - the Boeing 767 - allowing it to launch frequent flights to Western Europe and compete with Air Canada. These ageing 767s were retired soon thereafter and replaced by Boeing 787 aircraft after this model proved successful, with the airline now servicing dozens of European Cities.
Above is a Boeing 787-9 (C-GURP) arriving at London Heathrow (LHR) from Calgary International Airport (YYC)
Flair Airlines
Flair Airlines was founded in 2005 as Flair Air, serving as a Canadian charter and cargo airline currently headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta. In 2017, the airline rebranded to Flair Airlines and purchased additional aircraft as it expanded into the passenger market. In 2019, the airline went through another makeover as it bought additional aircraft and began bringing itself as Canada’s premiere low cost carrier. Interestingly, the airline has operated three different generations of Boeing 737 - beginning with the Classic 737-400, then the Next Generation 737-800, and currently the MAX 8 (shown).
Above is a Boeing 737 MAX 8 (C-FLKA) arriving at Toronto Pearson (YYZ) from Calgary International Airport (YYC)
Sun Country Airlines
Sun Country Airlines was established in 1982 by a group of previous Braniff International Airways employees after Braniff ceased passenger operations that same year. Braniff was a major American airline operating at its peak over 100 jetliners. Sun Country was launched as a charter airline and began scheduled passenger services in the 1990s. Today, Sun Country operates as an ultra-low cost carrier, a transition that was finalized after the company reorganized in 2017. This change also sees the airline operate cargo services for Amazon Air to offset lower demand during non-peak travel periods.
Above is a Boeing 737-800 (N845SY) arriving at Toronto Pearson (YYZ) from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)
Arajet
Arajet was founded in 2022 and is the flag carrier of the Dominican Republic. The company has roots to the Dominican charter airline Dominican Wings founded in 2014. Beginning in 2018, that airline transitioned to a low-cost model and rebranded to Arajet in 2021. In 2023, Arajet launched flights between Toronto and Santo Domingo - the first Dominican airline to fly to Canada - part of a rapid route expansion. Upon the flight’s inauguration, Arajet partnered with Illuminati Drone Shows in Toronto to launch, according to the airline, the city’s largest ever drone show (showcasing their logo).
Above is a Boeing 737 MAX 8 (HL1101) named “Los Haitises,” the Dominican national park, arriving at Toronto Pearson (YYZ) from Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ)
Air North
Air North was founded in 1977 as “Air North Charters & Training Ltd.,” as the name “Air North” was deemed too similar to existing airlines at the time. The company initially provided services for Yukon mining companies using a small fleet of turbo-props. Over the following decades, Air North expanded its charter operations and launched scheduled passenger services, providing an important link between Yukon and other Canadian provinces. This was helped by successive additions of larger aircraft, including the DC-3, DC-4, and 737 family. In 2024, Air North inaugurated two 737-800s into its fleet.
Above is a Boeing 737-800 (C-FNYU) named “Jidii nakhwats’oo gogwijiłcheii nakhwadrii ts’at tr’agwanah’in” (Gwich-in for “vision the heart sees”) arriving at Toronto Pearson (YYZ) from Yellowknife Airport (YZF)
Sunwing
Sunwing is Canada's leading leisure airline and was founded in2 2002. The airline is Cuba's largest travel provider, sending 700,000 vacationers to the country each year and operates over 22,000 annual flights to nearly 75 destinations. Given their primary role as a winter holiday airline, Sunwing sends many of their aircraft to Europe to fly under the TUI group (which partners with Sunwing) during Europe’s busy summer months. In 2023, WestJet acquired Sunwing Airlines, raising concerns about a decided lack of competition in the Canadian aviation market.
Above is a Boeing 737-300 (C-GFEH) arriving at Toronto Pearson (YYZ)
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines traces its history to 1932 when McGee Airways and Star Air Services were founded in Alaska. Following the Great Depression, McGee’s tenuous financial position led to a merger with Star Air Services, which itself struggled for many years. By 1937, Star Air Services acquired Alaska Interior Airlines and rebranded to Star Air Lines. Several more acquisitions followed (Alaska was known for its highly saturated air market) in 1943: Mirow Air Service, Pollack Airlines, Lavery Airways, and Alaska Airmotive. In 1944, the company rebranded one last time to Alaska Airlines.
Above is a Boeing 737-900ER (N481AS) arriving at Toronto Pearson (YYZ) from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
AeroMexico
Aeromexico was established in 1934 as the private air company “Aeronaves de México.” By 1988, suffering from a dated fleet (average of 20+ years) and ineffective management, the airline declared bankruptcy, prompting the creation of a new corporate entity, "Aerovias de Mexico". This is the airline's corporate title; it has been known as Aeroméxico since 1972. Aeroméxico became the third airline in Latin America to fly regular flights to Asia, and since the demise of both competing carriers, Varig and VASP of Brazil, the carrier remains the sole Latin American airline with regular flights to Asia.
Above is a Boeing 737-800 (N825AM) arriving at Toronto Pearson (YYZ) from Mexico City Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX)
United Airlines
United Airlines, the largest airline by fleet and destinations, stems from the Boeing Airplane Company (est. 1916). With a first mail flight in 1919 Boeing expanded into United Aircraft & Transport Corporation (UATC) in 1929. However, a US ban on joint manufacturing/airline companies in 1934 forced a split into “United Aircraft” and the “Boeing Airplane Company” (now, just “Boeing”) for manufacturing and “United Air Lines” for air services. United launched the popular 777 in 1995, co-founded the 1st global airline alliance, star-alliance, in 1997 and merged with Continental Airlines, a large US airline, in 2010.
Above is an Embraer ERJ-175 (N724YX) operated by Republic Airlines arriving at Toronto Pearson (YYZ) from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
American Airlines
American Airlines, the largest airline by passengers carried and daily flights, dates to 1930 when 82 small airlines, the oldest from 1926, merged into American Airways. AA first flew in 1936 as American Air Lines and became the launch customer for the famous DC3 in 1936. In 1973, American Airlines became the first major US airline to hire a female pilot (flying the 727). Then, in 1998, the airline became a founding member of the Oneworld Alliance, now the world's third largest airline alliance. American merged with US Airways in 2013 and acquired rival TWA - another American mammoth - in 2001.
Above is an Embraer ERJ-175 (N270NN) arriving at Toronto Pearson (YYZ) from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
Delta Airlines
Delta Airlines, the largest airline by revenue, honours the Mississippi “Delta,” near which “Huff Daland Dusters,” the world’s first aerial crop-dusting company, was founded in 1925. They entered the U.S. passenger market in 1928 as Delta Air Services. In 1955, Delta launched the revolutionary hub and spoke system and later launched the famous DC-8, Convair 880, and DC-9. Delta then merged with many notable airlines: Northeast Airlines (est. 1931) in 1972, Western Airlines (est. 1925) in 1987, and Northwest Airlines (est. 1926) in 2010. Delta co-founded SkyTeam, one of the 3 major airline alliances, in 2000.
Above is an Embraer ERJ-175 (N292SY) operated by SkyWest Airlines arriving at Toronto Pearson (YYZ) from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)
Swoop Airlines (Defunct)
Swoop Airlines was founded in 2017 as an ultra-low cost subsidiary of WestJet. It originally intended to compete against Flair Airlines, another Canadian low cost carrier, and was one of the first in a wave of new Canadian low cost carriers (Lynx, Canadian Jetlines, an expanded Flair), with only Flair remaining. The airline ceased operations in late 2023, with all assets set to be reabsorbed by WestJet following the ratification of a new union deal with its pilots which would see Swoop pilots given the same standing as WestJet pilots. This allegedly impaired Swoop’s ability to operate its ultra-low cost model.
Above is a Boeing 737-800 (C-FYPB) arriving at Toronto Pearson (YYZ)
Copa Airlines
COPA Airlines (Compañía Panameña de Aviación), Panama’s flag carrier, launched in 1947 with financial backing from PanAm. Copa initially operated domestically but gradually expanded into the Caribbean and the broader Americas. In 1998, Copa Airlines entered into a broad partnership with now-defunct Continental Airlines, with Continental taking a 49% stake and Copa adopting Continental’s branding and livery. To this day, Copa retains this branding, leading many to confuse the company with United Airlines, as United absorbed Continental in the early 2000s and similarly gained Continental’s livery.
Above is a Boeing 787-800 (HP-1826CMP) departing Toronto Pearson (YYZ) for Panama City (PTY)
Aeroflyer
Aeroflyer, the charter aircraft division of KF aerospace (the largest provider of commercial aircraft maintenance in Canada), was founded in 2022. The division provides charter flights for various customers, ranging from leisure to employee transports, based out of Canada’s west coast. KF Aerospace (founded as Kelowna Flightcraft in 1970) launched its first flights in 1974 under then subsidiary, Kelowna Flightcraft Air Charter (KF Cargo), which still flies today (and operates for Aeroflyer). KF Aerospace, however, has since grown mainly as a maintenance and logistics provider.
Above is a Boeing 737-600 (C-GKFQ) arriving at Toronto Pearson (YYZ)
Nolinor Aviation
Nolinor Aviation was founded in 1992 and is one of the largest Canadian charter airlines. Nolinor provides passenger, cargo, and tanker services, leveraging a fleet of early Boeing 737s (it operates the largest 737-200 fleet in the world) capable of servicing remote regions in Canada generally inaccessibly by other means of transportation. The airline offers multiple cabin configurations of their aircraft, and even serves as the official carrier of the Montreal Alouettes. Nolinor launched OWG Airlines, a subsidiary offering passenger services to the south, which ceased operations in 2025.
Above is a Boeing 737-400 (C-GGWV) departing Toronto Pearson (YYZ) en route to Thunder Bay International Airport (YQT)
Canadian North
Canadian North was founded as Bradley Air Services in 1946, providing charter flights in Northern Canada. After several decades of improving access to the Canadian territories, the airline rebranded to First Air in 1973. By contrast, the original Canadian North was established in 1989 as a subsidiary of Canadian Airlines (then the largest competitor of Air Canada), also to serve these remote regions. In 2019, the two airlines merged, retaining the name Canadian North and with new branding similar that of Air North previously. Today, Canadian North provides a critical link to the Canadian territories.
Above is a Boeing 737-300 (C-GICN) arriving at Toronto Pearson (YYZ) from Iqaluit International Airport (YFB) in the previous Canadian North livery
Chrono Aviation
Chrono Aviation was founded in 2012 as a Montreal-based charter airline. The company launched with a small Pilatus PC-12 and now operates a diverse fleet, including this 737-200, first delivered to Delta Airlines in 1987 and acquired by Chrono in 2019. The workhorse 737-200 allows operations to remote, northern Canadian airports, and is the only Boeing aircraft capable of using gravel runways. This makes the ageing aircraft very popular with Canadian mining companies; Chrono Aviation secured a contract to serve the Mary River Mine in Nunavut following the acquisition of the 737-200.
Above is a Boeing 737-200 (C-FBIM) arriving at Toronto Pearson (YYZ)
Glencore International
This aircraft is operated by Glencore International, a mining company with routes to the Falconbridge “Raglan” nickel mine in 1995 in northern Quebec, which is accessible by ship less than eight months per year. there is no other access other than air, served by this aging Boeing 737-200C (manufactured in 1979). As a combi-737, it transports both passengers (mining employees) and cargo concurrently and fares well in tough conditions; a gravel deflector underneath the forward wheel and vortex disapators on each engine prevent debris from entering the engines during gravel landings.
Above is a Boeing 737-200 (C-FFAL) arriving at Toronto Pearson (YYZ)
Porter Airlines
Porter Airlines was founded in 2006 as a short-haul Canadian airline based at the unique Billy Bishop Toronto Island Airport. The company provided service throughout the Canadian east coast and New England using a fleet of Bombardier DASH-8 Q400s. The airline has since expanded to Pearson using Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, allowing significant expansion into the United States and Western Canada. Toronto’s Island airport saw significant expansion due to Porter’s operations, with a new terminal and an underground pedestrian tunnel to the city opening allowing seamless connections to Toronto.
Above is an Embraer E195-E2 (C-GKXO) arriving at Toronto Pearson (YYZ) from Fort Myers Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)
Avianca
Avianca is a group of eight Latin American flagship airlines, each of which uses the "Avianca" title followed by the flag country of the airline for their names. The modern Avianca group was created in 2009 when TACA, the leading airline in South America at the time, and Avianca Colombia merged, forming a new pan-Latin American Avianca. Interestingly, Avianca Columbia, the national carrier of Columbia when in operation, was formed December 5th 1919 as SCADTA, making Avianca, due to the merger in 2009, the second oldest airline in the world behind KLM.
Above is a Boeing 787-9 (N79IAV) arriving at London Heathrow (LHR) from Bogota El Dorado International Airport (BOG)
BermudAir
BermudAir is the flag carrier of Bermuda and was recently founded in 2023. The company provides premium quality flights between Bermuda and the Eastern United States and Canadian provinces. The airline is unique in experiencing an uncharastically quick certification time between founding and first flight at under a year. This required logistic hurdles to be overcome; for instance, both Embraer E175s of their fleet are taken from FlyBe, a now defunct British low cost carrier. BermudAir’s colourful livery takes inspiration from the saturated architecture and diverse ecology found on the island of Bermuda.
Above is an Embraer E175 (VQ-BLU) named “Topsey” arriving at Toronto Pearson (YYZ) from St. George L.F. Wade International Airport (BDA), Bermuda
Perimeter Aviation
Perimeter Aviation is a small Canadian airline operating charter, scheduled, cargo, and medevac flights primarily to small Manitoba and Ontario communities. The company was founded in 1960 as a charter airline providing maintenance services. By 2001, Perimeter gained the rights to operate air ambulance flights, a critical component of providing equitable health care to small northern settlements. In 2018, Perimeter Aviation merged with Bearskin Airlines, a similarly sized airline based in Ontario. Bearskin was originally founded in 1963 by Bearskin Lake, to serve remote Indigenous communities.
Above is a DeHavilland DASH-8 Q300 (C-FUQY) arriving at Toronto Pearson (YYZ) from North Bay Jack Garland Airport (YYB)
Propair
Propair is another small Canadian airline operating charter, cargo, and medevac flights using a fleet of propeller prop aircraft. The airline dates to 1954 when La Sarre Air Services was acquired by Emilien Pronovost who, seeing a business opportunity, used its fleet to provide charter services to northern Quebec where road infrastructure was scarce. In 1983, the company acquired Air Fecteau, another small Quebec airline, and rebranded to Propair. The airline gradually expanded away from bush plane services to include medevac and business operations.
Above is a Beechcraft 1900D (C-GORC) arriving at Toronto Pearson (YYZ) from Wawa Municipal Airport (YXZ)
Latitude Air Ambulance
Latitude Air Ambulance was founded in 2009 and dedicates its small fleet of single-aisle aircraft to providing medevac, patient transfer, repatriation, and even organ transfer flights, in addition to other aeromedical services. The airline has operated around the globe, having flown to 120 different countries in all permanently populated continents. The company’s ability to handle the administrative side of medevac operations in addition to flight operations has cemented it as one of the only aeromedical airlines that operates in Canada to such a scale.
Above is a Beechcraft 1900D (C-GLHO) arriving at Toronto Pearson (YYZ) from Timmins Victor M. Power Airport (YTS)