Orca Airways was a scheduled and
charter airline based in
Vancouver,
British Columbia,
Canada. The
airline provided scheduled commercial service,
cargo and charter services, and aircraft management in Canada and the western United States. Orca operated a fleet of that includes 14
Piper PA-31-350 Chieftains, 1
Fairchild SA227s and 2
Beechcraft Model 100 King Air.
The company operated from the south terminal at
Vancouver International Airport.
History
Orca Airways was a family-owned airline which was founded in January 2005, and began operations in July 2005. At the time it only operated routes from Vancouver International Airport to
Tofino/Long Beach Airport
Tofino/Long Beach Airport is a non-towered airport that is located within the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Immediately adjacent to Long Beach, it is southeast of Tofino, British Columbia, Canada.
It is both a general aviation and commerc ...
operating one Piper Navajo on this route. It soon began expanding to provide charter service and cargo service. Orca Airways had the largest Navajo fleet airline in Canada and continued to expand providing scheduled and cargo routes across British Columbia.
On 27 February 2009 the airline acquired the small regional carrier Airspeed Aviation which was established in 1986 and based in
Abbotsford, British Columbia.
On March 15, 2018 Transport Canada suspended the airline's operating certificate citing its "repeated non-compliance with aviation safety regulations".
Orca Airways closes shop after 13 years in Business
/ref>
Destinations
As of April 2018, Orca Airways flew to the following destinations:Port Alberni
Port Alberni () is a city located on Vancouver Island in the province of British Columbia, Canada. The city lies within the Alberni Valley at the head of the Alberni Inlet, Vancouver Island's longest inlet. It is the location of the head offices o ...
ground service from Qualicum Beach :''"Qualicum" re-directs here. For the neighbourhood in Ottawa, see Qualicum, Ottawa''
Qualicum Beach () is a town located on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. In the 2021 census, it had a population of 9,303. It is situated at the fo ...
** Qualicum Beach :''"Qualicum" re-directs here. For the neighbourhood in Ottawa, see Qualicum, Ottawa''
Qualicum Beach () is a town located on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. In the 2021 census, it had a population of 9,303. It is situated at the fo ...
(Qualicum Beach Airport
Qualicum Beach Airport is located south of Qualicum Beach, British Columbia, Canada.
Tenants
The following are at the airport:
*Iskwew Air
*Qualicum Flight Centre
*Oceanside Air
*Royal Canadian Air Cadets - 893 Squadron
*Sunwest Helicopters
*Q ...
)
** Tofino (Tofino/Long Beach Airport
Tofino/Long Beach Airport is a non-towered airport that is located within the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Immediately adjacent to Long Beach, it is southeast of Tofino, British Columbia, Canada.
It is both a general aviation and commerc ...
)
** Vancouver ( Vancouver International Airport)
** Victoria ( Victoria International Airport)
Fleet
As of May 2018 Orca Airways fleet was still listed with Transport Canada:
See also
* List of defunct airlines of Canada
References
External links
Official Company Site
{{Defunct airlines of Canada
Regional airlines of British Columbia
Airlines established in 2005
2005 establishments in British Columbia
Defunct airlines of Canada
Airlines disestablished in 2018
2018 disestablishments in British Columbia