What Happened to the World's BEST Airline? Here's Why Wardair FAILED - The Story of Wardair Canada

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  • Опубліковано 30 вер 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 41

  • @harryhyman2267
    @harryhyman2267 Рік тому +5

    My grandparents flew between Leeds Bradford and Toronto on the 747 in the 80s they said it was very strange that such a large aircraft at an airport which only had flights on 737 200 s and 300s to places like spain

  • @laurab8441
    @laurab8441 2 роки тому +10

    Thanks for this video, I was a former WD employee, merged into CP then AC. Left in 2004. Will never forget how amazing the service was.

  • @TVY2013
    @TVY2013 Рік тому +5

    I fondly remember flying frequently between Toronto and Vancouver on Wardair. The great meal selection on fine china, a choice of black forest cake or baked Alaska that was served directly from the actual cake etc, the fancy cheese tray and a hot towel at the start and end to clean your hands. Those were the days!

  • @vinayaksharma8101
    @vinayaksharma8101 Рік тому +3

    Max Ward international airport,Edmonton ,Canada.
    Sounds nice.

  • @torontotim421
    @torontotim421 Рік тому +3

    By far our best airline to date. By today's service standards, it would blow everyone away.

  • @CJetsPlanespotting
    @CJetsPlanespotting 2 роки тому +7

    My mom always told me that Wardair was her family’s preferred airline, as their service was immaculate. Great video, very informative!

    • @canadianplanespotter
      @canadianplanespotter  2 роки тому +1

      Nice! Thanks a lot man, glad you found it informative 👍

    • @TVY2013
      @TVY2013 Рік тому +1

      I fondly remember flying frequently between Toronto and Vancouver on Wardair. The great meal selection on fine china, a choice of black forest cake or baked Alaska that was served directly from the actual cake etc, the fancy cheese tray and a hot towel at the start and end to clean your hands.

  • @francisnewmarch6837
    @francisnewmarch6837 Рік тому +3

    Excellent documentary.
    I worked on their technical support on the UK and was amazed at the lack of bums on seats yet the standards of service have never been repeated.
    You answered questions that have been niggle me for decades.
    Regards from London

  • @BrianSYYZ
    @BrianSYYZ Рік тому +7

    I worked at Wardair and the flight attendants you are showing throughout most of the video are Canadian Airlines flight attendants, not Wardair flight attendants. You can tell by the Canadi>n Airlines logo on their uniform. It's not exactly respectful to Wardair and the great flight attendants we had.

    • @user-vi2xi8un9z
      @user-vi2xi8un9z Рік тому

      Yes you are right.....I was trying to figure out why they looked weird. They should fix that and get it right. Wardair WAS THE BEST!!!!

    • @canadianplanespotter
      @canadianplanespotter  Рік тому

      Hmm, I didn't notice that. But guess what, there weren't many photos of Wardair flight attendants online that were copyright-free, so no disrespect was intended.

  • @GordoGambler
    @GordoGambler 2 роки тому +3

    Good story. The crashes in 1982 and 1989 were real alright. Beer taverns were never the same after.
    My first flight was from my home in Edmonton to Hawaii, Dec. 26, 1978. My 25th birthday was 2 days later, the stupid car rental made me wait till that day. Max was on that 747 too, like he often was. I haven't looked at my pictures in 25 or 30 years. LOL. I don't remember what I ate. It was a cold miserable week for me so I was very unimpressed, I never went back to Hawaii, but my dad and mum went half a dozen times.
    I still remember us driving to the new airport terminal's grand opening in 1963. I think Chuck Berry was there and limbo dancers. LOL.

    • @dad3073
      @dad3073 Рік тому +2

      Don’t remember any crashes that you talk about unless you are referring to the stock market

    • @GordoGambler
      @GordoGambler Рік тому +1

      @@dad3073 It was the 17% interest crash in 1982. I was paying 11 to 13% for the next 10 years or so. But that's why home prices went up very little all the way to 2002. I actually hate low interest rates. Zero incentive to save.

  • @alanlittle4589
    @alanlittle4589 Рік тому +1

    I travelled on Wardair from Gatwick I think to Calgary in 1988 aged 7. I have a Wardair branded pilot teddy 🧸 bear. I took him with me to Whipps Cross hospital when I was very ill in 1992. Has a special place in my heart as I clutched him as I was rushed to the emergency theatre.

  • @ianstewartorr8455
    @ianstewartorr8455 Рік тому +1

    I flew from prestwick airport to Calgary in 1982 when I was seventeen with wardair it was wonderful it was my first experience of flying greetings from Scotland 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

  • @ptyb6195
    @ptyb6195 Рік тому +1

    Flew from Manchester , England to Edmonton Alberta in 1980 and 1989. Amazing service and great to travel in 747. In 1995 as Wardair was finished I went on Air Canada which was substandard compared to my previous experiences.

  • @martymilner6714
    @martymilner6714 Місяць тому

    Years ago I had a service call at the Ward Residence in Edmonton. Briefly met Mr. Ward. I knew of him as a bush pilot and the owner of WairAir, but not aware of his contributions to the airline industry. TY for this video!

  • @jimbo6059
    @jimbo6059 4 місяці тому

    I remember seeing the Wardair 747 and DC10 And A310 at London Gatwick Airport, along with the odd CP DC8 in the early to mid 1980s. This must have messed up the newfound CAI when the takeover was completed.

  • @jprusso224
    @jprusso224 4 місяці тому

    Such a sad story. Thank you for doing this. My folks first flight together on a vacation south was on Wardair back in the early 80s. After it was sold, their only option was NationAir. Enough said.......

  • @user-GazarooGuy
    @user-GazarooGuy 5 місяців тому

    Bravo to Wardair.
    I worked in the airline industry for 30yrs with BA + VS in ground ops from 1988 - 2017 , travelled the world extensively on staff travel on many different airlines , obviously using BA + VS flights majority of the times.
    But never had the pleasure to have flown with Wardair.
    Now days, airlines dont offer any decent service to the bulk of flyers on their flights : ECONOMY.
    Pack them in , minimal service , 1 bar service, meal service is 1 small entree for everyone , a choice of 2 main meals , 1 small desert for everyone ,1 processed cheese + crackers , 1 roll , served all on a tray . 1 250ml choice of white or red wine to drink from a plastic wine glass.
    If the flight is over 8hrs your served a ' hot' breakfast , which looks like the airline has put their passengers on rations. A choice of tea + coffee in plastic cups.
    And airfares have rocket ed in price post pandemic , despite the fact that airtravel has bounced back quicker than anticipated post pandemic.
    Like everything else today : its GREED GREED + more GREED.😠

  • @berndgaal7689
    @berndgaal7689 7 місяців тому

    Best airline with the best service and food ever!!!!!! Filet Mignong on real porcellan in the economy class tells you all!!! That was sooooo exellent!!!

  • @biffwellington1782
    @biffwellington1782 Рік тому +1

    I flew from YYZ to PIK in 87 when I was 5. Just wisps of a memory. Wish I could conjure it up, 'cause I bet it was quite the experience. Been trying to figure out what plane I flew on. Best guess would be one of their DC-10's

  • @crabbcake
    @crabbcake 8 місяців тому

    i recall as a student getting an ultra low airfare on a brand new airbus. made a weekend trip possible. The captain pointed out it was the most advanced aircraft in the sky. At the time it was hard to figure out what these new aircraft were - not sure if passengers really cared.

  • @ruscador1
    @ruscador1 7 місяців тому

    Wardair was the best airline ever we blew DC-10's toronto to manchester lots of times we was treat like upper class

  • @cherifbar
    @cherifbar 5 місяців тому

    When I was a young man I wanted to be a DC10 pilot for Wardair.

  • @SedSid-v7b
    @SedSid-v7b 7 місяців тому

    People flew on that Airlines!

  • @aaronboles332
    @aaronboles332 2 роки тому +1

    Great in depth video. I flew on Wardair as a child to LGW from YOW and can always remember the meals and staff being so attentive.

  • @jacplanespotting314
    @jacplanespotting314 Рік тому

    informative video.....but i will always have fond memories of great food serviced on fine china!

  • @mickeyradomes6484
    @mickeyradomes6484 Рік тому

    Flew Wardair to Europe out of Toronto. Great food and service, but hideous looking planes and an unsustainable business model.

  • @besberry
    @besberry Рік тому

    It was a great airline to fly on. I loved it!

  • @hman455
    @hman455 2 роки тому

    Well done

  • @petersalfi8235
    @petersalfi8235 2 роки тому +2

    ....and Max Ward laughed all the way to the bank at the expense of his loyal employees!

    • @user-vi2xi8un9z
      @user-vi2xi8un9z Рік тому +7

      Where did you get that assumption...you are WRONG WRONG WRONG...we got awesome severance packages...besides HE was the boss and was entitled to what he got...the government kept bailing out AC..Max worked hard for his money. Rest in Peace Max.