The Calm Air story originates in the 1950’s with the Company’s creators, Arnold and Gail Morberg, constructing a fishing camp site on Black Lake, Saskatchewan. Identifying the importance of trustworthy air service to their camp and visitors, Arnold received his pilot’s license and bought a small single engine float airplane.
By 1962, Calm Air got a charter license at adjacent Stony Rapids, and the Company transported not only guests and provisions to Morberg’s Camps but assisted the communities’ needs, as well. In this way, Arnold Morberg and his wife founded Calm Air in this year as a charter service intending to cover northern Saskatchewan.
In 1969, Arnold and Gail acquired Fred Chupka’s Northern Manitoba carrier operation which has a base in Lynn Lake, Manitoba. Afterwards, Calm Air initiated a scheduled Twin Otter passenger service all through the area. Lynn Lake became home base for both their Company and the Morbergs over the following sixteen years.
The 70’s saw the construction of the fresh hydro-electric power services and mining examination, generating the opportunity for a fast growth for Calm Air.
Operations in Churchill, Manitoba’s Arctic Seaport commenced in 1975, while, the following year, Calm Air took over Transair’s passenger service in the Northwest Territories.
In 1976, Calm Air acquired Transair’s Twin Otter services in the Keewatin and, with the rising of Calm Air’s competence at the airport of Rankin Inlet, the Keewatin obtained its first really year-round resident airline service. During this period, Calm Air purchased its first aircraft Hawker Siddeley 748, which offered an augmented capability and comfort in an environment warm and pressurized.
During the mid-1970s, the airline purchased its first Hawker Siddeley 748 aircraft, and while the mine closed in 1985, its activities were a significant element in Calm Air’s development during that period.
In 1981, Calm Air took over most of the routes previously serviced by Lamb Air.
A second HS748 aircraft was added to the fleet in 1983.
Representing its growing significance as a local multi service air carrier, Calm Air moved the Head Office to Thompson, Manitoba, known as the ‘Hub of the North’, in the spring of 1985. Today the airline is still headquartered there.
Two years later, Canadian Airlines acquired a 45% holding in Calm Air.
In 1987, as a full service companion with the recently formed Canadian Airlines, Calm Air was able to provide a sophisticated booking system and access to the international community. Improvements to the fleet Hawker Siddeley 748 and to the Navajo Chieftain aircraft were made in order to meet the ever increasing cargo and passenger’s needs in both: the Keewatin and Northern Manitoba.
The first Swedish-built Saab 340B Plus aircraft joined the fleet in 1994, commencing their flights for Calm Air on the 15th of January, 1995.
By 2004, Calm Air had accomplished its second Big Door adaptation of the HS748 aircraft, now working on two of only three big doors that operates in North America.
On the 8th of April, 2009, Calm Air was acquired by the Exchange Industrial Income Fund (EIIF), recently turned into the Exchange Industrial Corporation (EIC), also owner of Perimeter Aviation, Bearskin Airlines and Keewatin Air.
In 2013, Calm Air added another ATR 42 to its fleet. This latest acquisition took the total fleet of ATR’s to eight aircraft.
In May 2015, Calm Air, First Air, and Canadian North signed a codeshare agreement, which allows the airlines to sell and market seats and cargo space on selected codeshare flights operated by the three airlines.
In November 2016, Calm Air announced that the end of the codeshare agreement between Canadian North and First Air does not affect the codeshare agreements between those airlines and Calm Air.
In June 2019, Calm Air introduced Online Check-in, allowing passengers to bypass the check-in counter line up and report directly to the boarding gate.
In September 2019, Calm Air announced that cash will no longer be accepted for reservations and fees.
No fatal accidents involving Calm Air aircraft have been recorded so far.
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