Canadian Colonial Airways History: New York to Montreal – Airline Employee Shop

Canadian Colonial Airways History

Canadian Colonial Airways opened airmail service between New York and Montreal in 1928, grew into Colonial Airlines with flights to Ottawa and Bermuda, and merged into Eastern Air Lines in 1956. Here's a short history of Canadian Colonial, plus the Canadian Colonial Airways collection that celebrates them.

Foreign Air Mail Route No. 1 (1928-1939)

Canadian Colonial Airways was founded on March 6, 1928, to fly Foreign Air Mail Route No. 1, from New York to Montreal by way of Albany. Its wholly owned Canadian subsidiary, based in Montreal, began service on October 1, 1928, and the Fairchild FC-2 was among the first aircraft used. The two companies jointly operated the New York-Montreal route. In its early years Canadian Colonial was associated with the Aviation Corporation, the group that formed American Airways, the forerunner of American Airlines.

Two countries, two companies (1939-1942)

Canadian ownership rules forced the U.S. parent to sell most of its Canadian subsidiary in 1939 and 1940. U.S. regulators certificated the parent as a scheduled airline on January 9, 1940. In 1941 they refused the Canadian company a permit to fly into the United States, and it stopped flying on June 30, 1942. After new investors took control, the U.S. company was renamed Colonial Airlines on April 30, 1942.

Colonial Airlines (1942-1956)

After the war Colonial grew. In August 1945 it won a route from Washington, D.C., to Montreal and Ottawa, and in 1946 it was awarded routes to Bermuda, with scheduled flights starting August 1, 1947. Douglas DC-3s flew the shorter routes and DC-4s the longer ones.

Merger with Eastern (1956)

Eastern Air Lines and National Airlines both fought for control of Colonial, and government policy changed more than once along the way. Eastern won, and the two airlines merged on June 1, 1956. Colonial brought eight DC-3s and five DC-4s to Eastern. Many of its smaller towns were later dropped from Eastern's network.

A few things collectors love

  • Its New York-Montreal service was Foreign Air Mail Route No. 1.
  • Its two names: Canadian Colonial Airways until April 1942, then Colonial Airlines.
  • Colonial's Bermuda flights, begun in 1947, linked New York and Washington with the island.

Shop Canadian Colonial Airways

Browse Canadian Colonial Airways logo T-shirts, coffee mugs, coasters, tote bags and vintage designs in the Canadian Colonial Airways collection. Add an airline bag tag or key tag for a classic touch on your next trip.

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