CP Air Boeing 737
A few railroad companies realized early the threat that commercial aviation posed to them: one of these railroads was Canadian Pacific, which operated most of Canada’s transcontinental rail service. Canadian Pacific wanted its own airline to supplement rail travel, so in 1942, it bought up ten small airlines (most of which only operated one or two aircraft flown by backwoods “bush” pilots) operating in the Canadian West. These were consolidated into Canadian Pacific Air Lines.
World War II prevented any sort of scheduled service until 1946, when war surplus Douglas DC-3s were bought. Though Canadian Pacific was able to establish flights in western Canada from its base in Vancouver, it was up against the national flag carrier, Trans-Canada Airlines, which had sole rights to some domestic flights and all flights to Europe or the US East Coast. Instead, the airline concentrated on routes to Australia and Japan, using DC-4s—a market Trans-Canada had completely ignored and was therefore wide open.
Canadian Pacific did very well on these routes, and with the introduction of Bristol Britannia turboprops in 1958 and jet Douglas DC-8s in 1961, could expand still further into a growing Asian market. By this time, Trans-Canada had become Air Canada, but while the Canadian government forbid Canadian Pacific from flying to nations already served by the flag carrier, Canadian Pacific could fly to anywhere else—which allowed the airline to finally add European service to the Netherlands, as well as some charter routes.
In 1968, the Canadian Pacific Railway owned a large number of hotels and shipping companies as well as its airline. For better brand recognition, Canadian Pacific changed its name and those of its holdings to CP, and Canadian Pacific Air Lines became simply CP Air. Also like the rest of the railroad’s holdings, CP Air’s new livery reflected the parent company, but it was eye-catching: a bright orange upper fuselage and tail with bare metal undersides and wings.
CP Air was competitive and well-known, and in 1979, Canada deregulated its aviation market, finally giving CP Air a chance to compete with Air Canada on all routes. This also meant that CP Air would be going against a well-established company. To improve their chances, CP Air spent $1 billion on new aircraft. This damaged the airline at the worst possible time: by the 1980s, air travel to Asia was increasing with many American airlines entering the market, while Asian airlines such as Singapore Airlines and All Nippon Airlines were increasing their flights into North America. CP Air was facing competition where it never had before.
In an effort to rebrand the airline, CP Air adopted a new livery in 1986 and returned to the Canadian Pacific brand. Whether or not this would have saved the airline became a moot point a year later, when Pacific Western Airlines bought CP Air, along with Nordair and Eastern Provincial Airways. All four airlines were merged into Canadian Airlines, ending CP Air’s history, though the new airline did keep Canadian Pacific’s red triangle motif and titling style.
This was one of the first models added to the Poletto Collection, back in 1974. It also kindled the friendship between Bary Poletto and my father--starting with a simple question at an IPMS model meeting: "Can I take a closer look at that?" This model started a friendship that would last for 40 years. It shows CP Air's classic orange livery.
CP Air Boeing 737
A few railroad companies realized early the threat that commercial aviation posed to them: one of these railroads was Canadian Pacific, which operated most of Canada’s transcontinental rail service. Canadian Pacific wanted its own airline to supplement rail travel, so in 1942, it bought up ten small airlines (most of which only operated one or two aircraft flown by backwoods “bush” pilots) operating in the Canadian West. These were consolidated into Canadian Pacific Air Lines.
World War II prevented any sort of scheduled service until 1946, when war surplus Douglas DC-3s were bought. Though Canadian Pacific was able to establish flights in western Canada from its base in Vancouver, it was up against the national flag carrier, Trans-Canada Airlines, which had sole rights to some domestic flights and all flights to Europe or the US East Coast. Instead, the airline concentrated on routes to Australia and Japan, using DC-4s—a market Trans-Canada had completely ignored and was therefore wide open.
Canadian Pacific did very well on these routes, and with the introduction of Bristol Britannia turboprops in 1958 and jet Douglas DC-8s in 1961, could expand still further into a growing Asian market. By this time, Trans-Canada had become Air Canada, but while the Canadian government forbid Canadian Pacific from flying to nations already served by the flag carrier, Canadian Pacific could fly to anywhere else—which allowed the airline to finally add European service to the Netherlands, as well as some charter routes.
In 1968, the Canadian Pacific Railway owned a large number of hotels and shipping companies as well as its airline. For better brand recognition, Canadian Pacific changed its name and those of its holdings to CP, and Canadian Pacific Air Lines became simply CP Air. Also like the rest of the railroad’s holdings, CP Air’s new livery reflected the parent company, but it was eye-catching: a bright orange upper fuselage and tail with bare metal undersides and wings.
CP Air was competitive and well-known, and in 1979, Canada deregulated its aviation market, finally giving CP Air a chance to compete with Air Canada on all routes. This also meant that CP Air would be going against a well-established company. To improve their chances, CP Air spent $1 billion on new aircraft. This damaged the airline at the worst possible time: by the 1980s, air travel to Asia was increasing with many American airlines entering the market, while Asian airlines such as Singapore Airlines and All Nippon Airlines were increasing their flights into North America. CP Air was facing competition where it never had before.
In an effort to rebrand the airline, CP Air adopted a new livery in 1986 and returned to the Canadian Pacific brand. Whether or not this would have saved the airline became a moot point a year later, when Pacific Western Airlines bought CP Air, along with Nordair and Eastern Provincial Airways. All four airlines were merged into Canadian Airlines, ending CP Air’s history, though the new airline did keep Canadian Pacific’s red triangle motif and titling style.
This was one of the first models added to the Poletto Collection, back in 1974. It also kindled the friendship between Bary Poletto and my father--starting with a simple question at an IPMS model meeting: "Can I take a closer look at that?" This model started a friendship that would last for 40 years. It shows CP Air's classic orange livery.