Air Calgary

Fact File

Air Calgary is a 'Cheap Flights' company set up to compliment Simonvian Airways. They now operate all flights to Rails and British Rails including the Slingsby-Rails/British Rails flights from Simonvian Airways.

The main base of Air Calgary is Calgary, near Sheffield. The airline was also set up in conjunction with the opening of Calgary Airport (Baggage Tag CGY).

History

Air Calgary was originally set up as a 'no-frills' airline that provides basic travel for a low price. The fleet originally consisted of 9 Embraer 190 aircraft transferred from Simonvian Airways after being replaced by a delivery of new, and slightly larger, Boeing 737 aircraft due to popular demand on the routes operated by the Embraers.

For the first 3 months of service, Air Calgary was rocked with staff disputes, as the majority of the staff had been transfered from Simonvian Airways and some of the new staff were seen as poorly trained. However, after a period of discussion with union representatives and enquiries into poorly trained staff claims, Air Calgary was able to continue with it's flights.

The hand-me-down fleet of Embraer 190s were overhauled from Simonvian Airways Green livery to the distinctive Red and White colours of Air Calgary as well as a complete interior refit, including the removal of seat-back enterainment installed by their previous owners.

Air Calgary was also hit by setbacks before it even started service! This was because of problems and delays to the constrution of Calgary Airport, the base of the airline. This meant that the airline could not start running until the completion of the airport.

The original routes operated by Air Calgary were:

• Chapeltown-St Albans
• Elsecar-Derby
• Calgary-Chapeltown
• Calgay-Derby

Air Calgary then ordered an extra 3 Embraer 190 aircraft and expanded their routes to include the international flights to Slingsby operating on the routes:

• Calgary-Scarborough
• Chapeltown-Scarborough

Air Calgary Today

Air Calgary now operates a fleet of 30 Airbus 320s as well as 12 Embraer 190s. The Airbus 320s replaced the Embraers on the core routes from Chapeltown and Calgary however, from time to time, an Embraer will end up on a Scarborough to Calgary flight.

The additional aircraft allowed Air Calgary to take on more routes, such as Derby-Scarborough and the 'Island Hopper' flights from Rails and British Rails to Slingsby.

Fleet

12 Embraer 190
30 Airbus A320