Formed at Toronto by Brian Child, chairman of the holding company Soundair, Ltd. in January 1988, this charter operator is specifically established to emulate the service of Wardair Canada, Ltd., which has now turned to scheduled operations. In June, a management team led by Brian Walker, a former Wardair Canada, Ltd. vice president, is appointed and an agreement is signed with the International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) for future aircraft charters.
A Boeing 757-27B is acquired on lease from Air Holland, N. V. and is delivered on October 31. With passengers boarding, the company’s operating license is received just six minutes before the Boeing’s inaugural November 3 flight to Las Vegas. Painted in purple, white, and blue livery, the first purchased 757, a Dash-28A, is received on December 20 and “Snowbird” charters are offered to Tampa. On behalf of Thomson Holidays, Ltd., other seasonal destinations initially visited include the Caribbean, Florida, and Mexico. Enplanements during the year’s final 2 months total 40,000.
A second owned B-757-28A is delivered in February 1989, allowing return of the leased Boeing in March. Twice-weekly Alba Tours, Ltd.-sponsored tours are undertaken to Rome, Catania, and Palermo. During May, the new Boeings undertake a series of Toronto to U. K. tours, including visits to Leeds/Bradford on May 3, London’s Stansted Airport on May 4, Newcastle on May 6, and Bristol on May 8. Meanwhile, beginning on May 7, charters are started to Athens, followed by Venice on June 16; twice-weekly roundtrip gambling charters are also flown to Las Vegas.
On June 20, an Odyssey flight sets a world record, flying from Vancouver to London (STN) in 8 hrs. 46 min. Following a rock charter to the Soviet capital, a Boeing is flown nonstop from Moscow to Toronto.
In November, two B-737-3S3s are leased from Air Europe, Ltd.; one will be employed only for the winter holiday season while the second, which will be given Odyssey livery, is to be retained until 1993.
The fleet in 1990 includes 2 B-757-28As, 2 leased B-737-3S3s, and 1 B-737-400. With the bankruptcy of parent Soundair, Ltd. in February, the charter operation is shut down.
In 1992, the carrier is purchased by Nationair Canada, Ltd., which now becomes Canada’s largest charter operator.
World History
