High Flying with Wardair: The Captivating Story of the Small but Mighty Boeing 747 Fleet
High Flying with Wardair: The Captivating Story of the Small but Mighty Boeing 747 Fleet - Humble Beginnings - The Early Days of Wardair in Canada
Wardair's story begins in humble circumstances, with entrepreneur Max Ward spotting a niche in Canada's nascent charter airline market. Ward got his start in aviation in 1953, ferrying small planes around Western Canada. Recognizing the potential for chartered air travel, he founded Wardair Ltd in 1953 with a single de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter seaplane.
In these early pioneering days, Wardair operated charter flights transporting hunters, fishermen, surveyors and prospectors to remote northern locations across Canada. The fledgling airline was lean and efficient, keeping costs low by having pilots double as aircraft mechanics. Ward made do with older, inexpensive planes and maximized aircraft utilization.
Wardair got its first big break in 1957 when it won a contract from the US Military Air Transport Service to operate charter flights between Montana and the DEW Line radar installations in Canada's far north. This put the tiny airline on the map and helped finance expansion of its fleet.
The 1960s saw Wardair thrive as Canada's economy boomed. The company upgraded to larger twin-engine piston planes and small business jets, branching out into executive charter flights. In 1969, Wardair became one of the first airlines in North America to add a large jet - the Boeing 707 - for charter service.
Despite its growth, Wardair remained a spirited upstart airline in a market dominated by government-owned domestic carrier Air Canada and CP Air internationally. Max Ward cultivated a swashbuckling, wildcat image for his airline. Wardair planes featured bold red and black liveries, with the Wardair name proudly emblazoned on the fuselage in striking block letters.
What else is in this post?
- High Flying with Wardair: The Captivating Story of the Small but Mighty Boeing 747 Fleet - Humble Beginnings - The Early Days of Wardair in Canada
- High Flying with Wardair: The Captivating Story of the Small but Mighty Boeing 747 Fleet - Soaring to New Heights - Wardair's Fleet Expansion in the 1970s
- High Flying with Wardair: The Captivating Story of the Small but Mighty Boeing 747 Fleet - First Class Service - Onboard Amenities and In-Flight Experience
- High Flying with Wardair: The Captivating Story of the Small but Mighty Boeing 747 Fleet - Far Flung Destinations - Wardair's Unique International Route Network
- High Flying with Wardair: The Captivating Story of the Small but Mighty Boeing 747 Fleet - The Widebody Workhorse - Flying the Iconic Boeing 747
- High Flying with Wardair: The Captivating Story of the Small but Mighty Boeing 747 Fleet - The Final Flight - Wardair's Closure in 1989
- High Flying with Wardair: The Captivating Story of the Small but Mighty Boeing 747 Fleet - Legacy of Excellence - Remembering a Small Airline's Big Impact
High Flying with Wardair: The Captivating Story of the Small but Mighty Boeing 747 Fleet - Soaring to New Heights - Wardair's Fleet Expansion in the 1970s
Wardair entered the 1970s poised for expansion. Buoyed by a strong economy and growing demand for charter travel, Max Ward ambitiously grew his airline’s fleet during this pivotal decade.
The airline’s first widebody jet arrived in 1970 - a Boeing 707-320C. This new addition enabled Wardair to offer nonstop flights from Canada to Europe for the first time. The 707’s extended range opened up new long-haul charter routes across the Atlantic. Wardair put its 707 to work on popular summer vacation charters from Toronto and Montreal to destinations like London, Paris, Rome and Athens.
In 1972, Wardair supplemented its 707 with a pair of Boeing 727 trijets. These middle distance workhorses allowed the airline to expand charter operations within North America. The 727’s reliability and capacity made it ideal for Wardair’s bustling charter business.
As Canada’s energy industry boomed, Wardair won lucrative contracts transporting oil workers to remote sites. The airline operated charters from Calgary and Edmonton to places like Yellowknife, Inuvik, and Fort McMurray. Its 727s were well-suited for these rugged northern runs.
In 1974, Wardair acquired its first widebody McDonnell Douglas DC-10. This long range twin aisle jet allowed nonstop flights to more far flung destinations. Wardair deployed the DC-10 on popular Hawaii charters from Western Canada, as well as Europe charters from Toronto and Montreal.
In 1975, the airline added a second DC-10. Now with two of these capable long haul jets, Wardair established itself as Canada’s leading charter airline. It flew vacation charters not just to Europe and Hawaii, but also to Mexico, the Caribbean and South America.
In 1979, Wardair expanded its 707 fleet with the addition of two 707-300 series jets. These allowed longer duration Europe charters, and were also deployed on military and oil industry charters. By the end of the 1970s, Wardair operated 9 jet aircraft, a substantial expansion from its early days.
High Flying with Wardair: The Captivating Story of the Small but Mighty Boeing 747 Fleet - First Class Service - Onboard Amenities and In-Flight Experience
Though a small charter airline, Wardair developed a reputation for outstanding service and amenities, especially in first and business class cabins. At a time when most airlines offered sparse creature comforts, Wardair pampered passengers with luxurious perks.
On intercontinental flights, Wardair configured its 707s and DC-10s with premium cabins. First class seats had ample legroom and reclined into fully flat beds - a rare luxury in the 1970s. Business class seats were also spacious and comfortable, with generous recline and legroom.
Complimentary amenities exceeded the norm. Passengers were welcomed with pre-departure champagne, wine or cocktails. In-flight dining included premium entrées, often personally selected by Max Ward's wife Jane. The wine list featured fine vintages instead of just basic table wine. After dinner, passengers enjoyed cognacs, liqueurs and cigars.
Between meals, flight attendants frequently offered mid-flight snacks and beverages. On overnight flights, passengers received comfort kits with slippers, eye masks, earplugs, moisturizer and other upscale toiletries. Before landing, flight attendants served a refreshing fruit and cheese platter.
Wardair's in-flight entertainment was also a cut above. Its 707s and DC-10s had individual seatback screens showing movies, TV shows and documentaries. Passengers could choose from a selection of audio channels to listen to music or radio.
While other airlines focused on cutting costs, Wardair emphasized premium service. On a typical Wardair flight, passengers felt pampered in an opulent, club-like environment. From check-in to disembarking, staff provided gracious hospitality.
First class travelers appreciated Wardair's bespoke service and generous amenities. For those accustomed to luxury, Wardair delivered an exceptional travel experience. Its aircraft interiors felt intimate, not cavernous. Passengers had space to work or relax in sublime comfort.
Even in coach, Wardair service made economy class tolerable. With just one or two aisles, economy cabins were intimate. Seats had comfortable pitch and recline. Complimentary meals were restaurant quality. Attendants exuded charm and friendliness.
High Flying with Wardair: The Captivating Story of the Small but Mighty Boeing 747 Fleet - Far Flung Destinations - Wardair's Unique International Route Network
As a charter airline unencumbered by regular schedules, Wardair could flexibly serve niche international routes overlooked by major carriers. The airline flew vacation charters to exotic, far flung locales that most Canadians only dreamed of visiting. Its long range jets opened up the world.
During winter, Wardair operated popular "snowbird" charters from Toronto and Western Canada to sunny destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America. Canadians fled the harsh weather for a rejuvenating escape to beaches in Cuba, Jamaica, Barbados or coastal resorts in Mexico like Acapulco, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta.
In Europe, Wardair connected Canadian travelers to Old World capitals like London, Paris and Rome. But it also served smaller cities bypassed by other airlines, like Shannon, Ireland; Nice, France and Edinburgh. Max Ward diligently researched prospective new markets, adding cities he felt Canadians would embrace for vacations.
Wardair was the first airline to fly nonstop from Canada to Israel, launching Tel Aviv charters to cater to Jewish travelers. It operated flights to Düsseldorf, Germany; Athens, Greece and Istanbul, Turkey - underserved cities that attracted history and culture buffs. Enthusiasts could embark on a Wardair charter to photograph Swedish Lapland's Northern Lights.
For sun starved Canadians, Wardair’s Hawaii charters were very popular. Its DC-10s flew nonstop from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton to Honolulu and other Hawaiian islands. In Mexico, Wardair was the first airline to serve Manzanillo and Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. It operated Costa Rica charters before that country was on the mainstream tourist map.
Adventure travelers took Wardair charters to Kenya and South Africa to experience exotic African safaris. The airline flew Canadians down under to explore Australia and New Zealand. Wardair added Bali charters before mass tourism discovered that Indonesian paradise.
Max Ward studied passenger booking patterns and feedback, constantly evaluating new international markets. His ability to nimbly deploy Wardair’s long haul planes to serve unique destinations gave the airline an unmatched global reach. Even as a small charter carrier, Wardair’s route network was more diverse than major national airlines.
High Flying with Wardair: The Captivating Story of the Small but Mighty Boeing 747 Fleet - The Widebody Workhorse - Flying the Iconic Boeing 747
Of all the aircraft types operated by Wardair over its 36 year history, none captured the imagination quite like the Boeing 747. When Wardair became one of the launch customers for Boeing’s new jumbo jet in 1970, it was an audacious move by Max Ward to acquire not just one, but two 747s in the first year of production. The 747 was double or triple the size of any plane Wardair had flown before. Some industry observers felt this tiny charter airline was overreaching by ordering the world’s largest airliner.
But Max Ward saw the possibilities of the 747 as a spacious canvas for his creative vision. Within the 401 seat economy class cabin, Wardair could accommodate large groups with ease. There was ample room for tour operators to sell affordable blocks of seats. The Twin Solarium first class cabin featured seating for just 26 privileged passengers. Its upper deck lounge provided them a cozy retreat, with leather club chairs and a full bar.
For pilots, the 747 presented a thrilling new challenge, requiring new skills and techniques. Only the most experienced Wardair captains qualified to command the mammoth jet. But those who did gained immense satisfaction mastering the queen of the skies. They appreciated the 747's grace and power on takeoff, its docile handling qualities at the flight levels.
During its first years of 747 operations, Wardair debuted the jumbo on high profile charter routes like Toronto-London, Toronto-Amsterdam and Toronto-Tel Aviv. The airline marketed its new 747 service as the affordable way for middle class Canadians to cross the Atlantic in style. At travel agencies across Canada, Wardair's 747 photo posters enticed prospective travelers.
Throughout the 1970s, Wardair's two 747-100s flew reliably, transporting thousands of vacationers on transatlantic summer charters. Their huge capacity allowed tour packagers to assemble large group bookings, often entire planeloads of travelers. The 747s could be quickly reconfigured between flights to accommodate customized cabin layouts. A 747 arriving from Europe in all-economy spec might depart hours later for Hawaii with a first class cabin installed.
By 1979, Wardair took delivery of a third 747, a more advanced 747-200 variant. Its increased range and improved economics made possible longer charters to more distant locales. No longer just confined to Europe, Wardair's 747s now flew Canadians on far flung charters to Asia, Africa and South America.
The iconic humped silhouette of a Wardair 747 became a familiar sight at airports across Canada. For residents of Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, spotting a Wardair jumbo overhead meant the exotic world had arrived on their doorstep. It signaled opportunity to experience global destinations most could only read about.
High Flying with Wardair: The Captivating Story of the Small but Mighty Boeing 747 Fleet - The Final Flight - Wardair's Closure in 1989
After 36 years of triumphant growth, Wardair's high-flying journey came to an abrupt end in 1989 when it ceased operations. The airline's demise that fateful year marked the close of a distinctive chapter in Canadian aviation. For those privileged to have flown with Wardair or worked for the feisty upstart, its loss left a void that no successor could fill.
In retrospect, Wardair's fate was likely sealed a decade earlier when Air Canada acquired the airline's main competitor, CP Air, in 1979. This merger gave Air Canada monopoly control of the domestic market as well as international routes. With its vast capital reserves and extensive network, Air Canada could operate at a loss on competitive routes to undercut Wardair's prices.
By the late 1980s, Wardair struggled to stay profitable on the Europe charters and Hawaii routes that had been its bread and butter. Its special cachet as an indulgent, boutique airline still won loyal customers. But many thrifty vacationers were enticed away by Air Canada's cutthroat fares and huge fleets offering greater schedule flexibility.
The Boeing 747, which had enabled Wardair's meteoric rise, now became an expensive liability. Fuel and maintenance costs soared for its aging jumbo fleet. New long range twin jets like the 767 made the quadjets obsolete. Wardair retired its iconic 747s in 1987, losing its unique signature aircraft. Operating smaller planes, it was just another airline.
Increasingly desperate, Max Ward even eliminated first class entirely, sacrificing the premium amenities that had burnished Wardair's brand. But the airline hemorrhaged money on discounted fares in a futile bid to fill excess seats. By early 1989, Wardair teetered on the brink, burdened with $50 million in debts.
On February 22, 1989, Wardair operated its final revenue flight, a Boeing 727 charter from Miami to Toronto. After landing, the aircraft received a ceremonious water cannon salute. Flight attendants wept as they served Wardair's final meals in flight. It was a somber end of an era.
For 36 years Wardair had carved out an improbable niche as Canada's high-spirited boutique airline. Loyal employees and customers lamented its demise. They fondly remembered the airline's congenial spirit and stellar service, which rivaled the world's finest airlines. Wardair left behind a treasured legacy of unforgettable global adventures, consummate hospitality, and an uncanny ability to feel like a big airline while maintaining a personal touch.
High Flying with Wardair: The Captivating Story of the Small but Mighty Boeing 747 Fleet - Legacy of Excellence - Remembering a Small Airline's Big Impact
Though only a small airline, Wardair left an outsized imprint on Canada's aviation landscape through its pioneering spirit and commitment to service excellence. More than just a scrappy upstart, Wardair transformed charter flying with its bold approach and unique brand identity. Its legacy reaches across decades.
For travelers fortunate enough to fly with Wardair during its heyday in the 1970s and 80s, the memories remain indelible. From check-in to baggage claim, Wardair staff exuded genuine warmth and hospitality. Flight attendants took personal pride in making each passenger feel pampered and relaxed. The inflight atmosphere was gracious, like an exclusive club.
Wardair crews took great satisfaction in delivering a travel experience that far exceeded expectations. Pilots regarded Captain Max Ward with reverence as the consummate aviation entrepreneur. Working for his dynamic, maverick airline was a point of prestige. Employees appreciated Wardair's intimate, family-run culture where individual effort was recognized.
With its large fleet of widebody jets, Wardair made global travel accessible to thousands of middle class Canadians who previously only dreamed of flying abroad. Its vacation charters transported eager tourists to exotic destinations rarely served by other airlines at the time. Wardair truly opened the world.
The very sight of a Wardair 747 Mae West logo above the wing on approach was enough to quicken the pulse of any avgeek. Between 1970 and 1987, Wardair operated four Boeing 747s - an impressively large jumbo jet fleet for such a small airline. Its 747s flew Canadians on unforgettable journeys across oceans and continents.
Wardair pioneered boutique first and business class cabins, at a time when most airlines offered only sparse premium amenities. Its inflight service standards were on par with top international flag carriers. Wardair made luxury comfort in the skies available to paying passengers, not just pop stars or tycoons on private jets.