North Canada Air
North Canada Air, commonly known as Norcanair, was a Saskatchewan-based Canadian airline serving northern communities through scheduled passenger, charter, cargo, and bush-flying operations.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
North Canada Air, generally known by the abbreviated name Norcanair, was a Canadian airline rooted in Saskatchewan's bush-flying tradition. Its corporate lineage reached back to Mayson and Campbell Aviation, a small commercial flying enterprise established in Saskatoon in 1930 by private pilot Richmond Mayson and airframe engineer and pilot Angus Campbell. The company moved to Prince Albert in 1935 and developed an operating model suited to northern Saskatchewan, carrying prospectors, hunters, fishermen, surveyors, miners, travelers, and freight into areas with limited road access. Its work included transporting fresh fish and supporting commercial and exploratory activity in the province's forested north. During the Second World War, the predecessor business contributed technical capacity to an aircraft overhaul facility in Prince Albert that maintained aircraft associated with the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. After Campbell's death in 1943, Mayson continued the business until the Saskatchewan government acquired it in 1947. The operation was reorganized as Saskatchewan Government Airways, a Crown corporation intended to extend air links into the province's remote northern settlements. From 1947 to 1965, Saskatchewan Government Airways operated from Prince Albert and maintained several northern sub-bases. Following a change in Saskatchewan's provincial government in the 1964 election, the Crown airline was privatized. Private Saskatchewan businessmen acquired the operation and renamed it North Canada Air, usually shortened to Norcanair. The airline combined two related activities: charter flying in northern Saskatchewan and scheduled passenger service linking northern communities with population centers farther south. Its service network reflected the practical needs of a sparsely populated region rather than a conventional high-density airline market. Destinations included La Ronge, Prince Albert, Regina, Saskatoon, Stony Rapids, Uranium City, and Wollaston Lake, with additional services to Calgary, Edmonton, Lloydminster, and Winnipeg. In the United States, the airline served Minneapolis–Saint Paul from Regina during the later part of its history. Norcanair operated a varied fleet shaped by its mixed bush, regional, and charter mission. Utility aircraft included the Cessna 180, de Havilland Canada Beaver, de Havilland Canada Otter, and Twin Otter. Larger regional equipment included Fairchild F-27 turboprops acquired from Hughes Air West in 1976 and 1977, as well as Beechcraft King Air, Convair 640, Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante, and NAMC YS-11 aircraft. The Fokker F28 Fellowship was the airline's only jet airliner type, while a Cessna Citation I was used as a business jet in the early 1980s. The fleet also included historically significant aircraft such as Bristol Freighters and a PBY Catalina-derived Canso. In 1981, president John B. "Jack" Lloyd announced a proposed sale of the airline back to the Saskatchewan government. A tentative agreement was reached, but the provincial government changed before the transaction could be completed. The incoming Progressive Conservative government instead sold the airline to Saskatoon businessman Albert Ethier, who combined it with his charter company, Hi-Line Airways. Norcanair expanded its scheduled network in the mid-1980s and began nonstop Regina–Minneapolis–Saint Paul passenger service in 1985 using the Fokker F28. By 1987, it was feeding passengers to CP Air, and Time Air acquired the airline in March of that year. Scheduled services continued under Time Air after the acquisition. The Norcanair name therefore represents a defunct regional airline brand whose importance lay in maintaining air connectivity, charter access, and essential transportation infrastructure across northern Saskatchewan.
History
North Canada Air's history began with Mayson and Campbell Aviation, founded in Saskatoon in 1930 by Richmond Mayson and Angus Campbell. The partners initially conducted barnstorming flights at agricultural fairs and offered short passenger rides. They later moved into practical commercial aviation, including the movement of fresh fish from northern Saskatchewan and transportation for prospectors, hunters, fishermen, miners, surveyors, and other travelers. In 1935, the company relocated to Prince Albert, where it established facilities near the river and airport, including a dock and fueling arrangements for floatplanes. The business grew to operate several aircraft and became part of the development of northern Saskatchewan's air access. The Second World War brought additional technical work. The Prince Albert operation participated in aircraft overhaul activity connected with the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Angus Campbell died in May 1943. In the postwar period, Richmond Mayson accepted a 1947 proposal from Saskatchewan's newly elected Cooperative Commonwealth Federation government to sell the airline to the province. The operation became Saskatchewan Government Airways, a Crown corporation created to use aircraft to connect the province's vast and remote north. It was based at Prince Albert's Glass Field Airport and operated from 1947 through 1965, with several northern sub-bases. A change in Saskatchewan's government after the 1964 election led to privatization. The acquired airline was renamed North Canada Air, with Norcanair becoming its customary short form. The company maintained a dual operating model. Charter flights served remote northern areas, resource and exploration activity, and travelers requiring access beyond the scheduled network. Scheduled flights linked northern Saskatchewan communities with Prince Albert, Regina, Saskatoon, and destinations outside the province. The airline's route system eventually included Calgary, Edmonton, Lloydminster, Winnipeg, and Minneapolis–Saint Paul, alongside northern points such as La Ronge, Stony Rapids, Uranium City, and Wollaston Lake. The fleet reflected the airline's varied requirements. Cessna 180s, de Havilland Canada Beavers, Otters, and Twin Otters supported bush and utility operations. The airline also flew Beechcraft King Airs, Convair 640s, Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirantes, NAMC YS-11s, and Fairchild F-27 turboprops. Five Fairchild F-27s were acquired from Hughes Air West in 1976 and 1977. Norcanair's only jet airliner was the Fokker F28 Fellowship, used on scheduled operations including the Regina–Minneapolis–Saint Paul route launched in 1985. A Cessna Citation I was also operated as a business jet in 1983. Other aircraft types in the historical fleet included the Beechcraft Model 18, Bristol Freighter, Canso, Douglas DC-3, and additional utility aircraft. In 1981, president John B. "Jack" Lloyd announced plans to sell the airline back to the Saskatchewan government. Although a tentative agreement was reached, it was not finalized before the provincial government fell. The succeeding Progressive Conservative government sold Norcanair to Saskatoon businessman Albert Ethier, who merged or combined it with his own charter operation, Hi-Line Airways. During the mid-1980s, Norcanair continued scheduled regional service and developed international cross-border connectivity through its Minneapolis route. By 1987, the airline was feeding passengers to CP Air. Time Air acquired Norcanair in March 1987, after which the scheduled routes continued under Time Air. The brand consequently disappeared as an independent airline, although parts of its operating network remained in service. The wider Norcanair name appeared again briefly in later periods according to the reference description, including a short revival in the early 1990s and another period from 2001 to 2005. The available material does not provide enough detail to document the ownership, routes, management, or exact corporate structure of those later appearances, so they are not expanded here.
- 1987
Time Air takeover
[1]Time Air acquires Norcanair in March, with the airline's scheduled services continuing under the acquiring carrier.
- 1985
Cross-border jet service launches
[1]Norcanair begins scheduled nonstop service from Regina to Minneapolis–Saint Paul using Fokker F28 aircraft.
- 1981
Ownership transition is proposed and revised
[1]A proposed sale to the Saskatchewan government fails to close after a change in provincial government; the airline is subsequently sold to Albert Ethier and combined with Hi-Line Airways.
- 1976
Fairchild F-27 fleet acquisition
[1]Norcanair acquires five Fairchild F-27 turboprops from Hughes Air West over 1976 and 1977.
- 1965
Privatization and creation of North Canada Air
[1]Saskatchewan Government Airways is privatized and renamed North Canada Air, commonly known as Norcanair.
- 1947
Business becomes Saskatchewan Government Airways
[1]The Saskatchewan government acquires the predecessor airline and establishes a Crown corporation to provide air access to northern communities.
- 1935
Operations move to Prince Albert
[1]The predecessor company relocates to Prince Albert and expands its northern bush-flying and floatplane activities.
- 1930
Mayson and Campbell Aviation is founded
[1]Richmond Mayson and Angus Campbell establish a commercial aviation business in Saskatoon, creating the corporate lineage later associated with North Canada Air.
Products and positioning
A practical regional and bush airline focused on connecting remote northern Saskatchewan communities with southern Canadian cities, while supporting resource exploration, tourism, freight movement, and charter aviation.
Airline service · 1965
Scheduled regional passenger service
Norcanair operated scheduled passenger routes connecting northern Saskatchewan communities with Prince Albert, Regina, Saskatoon, and other regional centers. Its later network also reached Calgary, Edmonton, Lloydminster, Winnipeg, and Minneapolis–Saint Paul. The service was designed for a geographically dispersed market where aviation provided an essential alternative to limited surface transportation.
Charter aviation · 1965
Northern bush and charter operations
Charter flying was a core part of the airline's identity. Using aircraft such as the Cessna 180, Beaver, Otter, and Twin Otter, Norcanair served remote lakes, settlements, exploration sites, and seasonal travel needs. The operation supported prospectors, hunters, fishermen, miners, surveyors, and other passengers requiring flexible access to northern Saskatchewan.
International regional passenger service · 1985
Regina–Minneapolis–Saint Paul service
Introduced in 1985, this scheduled nonstop route connected Regina with Minneapolis–Saint Paul. Norcanair operated the service with the Fokker F28 Fellowship, its only jet airliner type, extending the airline's regional network across the Canada–United States border.
Brand decisions
1987
Acquisition by Time AirM&ABackground
Norcanair was operating scheduled regional routes and feeding passengers to CP Air.
Action taken
Time Air acquired Norcanair in March 1987.
Aftermath
The scheduled routes continued under Time Air, ending Norcanair's independent operation.
1985
Launch of Regina–Minneapolis–Saint Paul serviceProduct launchBackground
Norcanair sought to extend its scheduled regional network beyond western Canada.
Action taken
The airline introduced a scheduled nonstop passenger route from Regina to Minneapolis–Saint Paul using Fokker F28 aircraft.
Aftermath
The route became the airline's documented cross-border scheduled service.
1981
Attempted sale to the Saskatchewan governmentM&ABackground
President John B. "Jack" Lloyd announced an intention to sell Norcanair back to the provincial government, and a tentative agreement was reached.
Action taken
The transaction was not completed after the NDP government fell and a Progressive Conservative government took office.
Aftermath
The airline was instead sold to Albert Ethier and combined with Hi-Line Airways.
1976
Introduction of Fairchild F-27 turbopropsOtherBackground
Norcanair needed larger and faster aircraft for its scheduled regional network.
Action taken
The airline acquired five Fairchild F-27 aircraft from Hughes Air West during 1976 and 1977.
Aftermath
The turboprops became part of Norcanair's scheduled passenger fleet.
1965
Privatization and rebranding as North Canada AirStrategyBackground
A change in Saskatchewan's provincial government led to the privatization of Saskatchewan Government Airways.
Action taken
Private Saskatchewan businessmen acquired the Crown airline and renamed it North Canada Air, generally shortened to Norcanair.
Aftermath
The airline continued both northern charter flying and scheduled regional passenger service.
Recent events
- 1987
Time Air acquires Norcanair[1]
M&A · Leadership change
Time Air took over Norcanair in March 1987. Scheduled passenger services continued under Time Air after the acquisition.
- 1985
Regina–Minneapolis–Saint Paul service begins[1]
Product launch
Norcanair introduced scheduled nonstop passenger service between Regina and Minneapolis–Saint Paul using Fokker F28 Fellowship aircraft.
- 1981
Proposed sale of Norcanair to the Saskatchewan government[1]
M&A
President John B. "Jack" Lloyd announced a proposed sale of Norcanair back to the provincial government. A tentative deal was reached but did not close after the provincial government changed.
- 1981
Norcanair is combined with Hi-Line Airways[1]
M&A
The incoming Saskatchewan government sold the airline to Saskatoon businessman Albert Ethier, who combined it with his charter company, Hi-Line Airways.
- 1976
Norcanair acquires Fairchild F-27 aircraft[1]
Product generation · Other
The airline acquired five Fairchild F-27 turboprop aircraft from Hughes Air West during 1976 and 1977, strengthening its scheduled regional operation.
- 1965
Norcanair is privatized and renamed North Canada Air[1]
Other
After Saskatchewan Government Airways was privatized following a change in the provincial government, private Saskatchewan businessmen acquired the operation and renamed it North Canada Air, commonly abbreviated as Norcanair.
Sources1 sources
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