Soundair (ICAO: SDRcall sign: SOUNDAIR), previously Owen Sound Air Services, dba Soundair Express, was a freight airline based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. The airline was the parent company of Air Toronto and Odyssey International and operated freight flights under the brand Soundair Express.[1]

Soundair Corporation
Soundair Express
IATA ICAO Call sign
? SDR SOUNDAIR
Commenced operations1973
Ceased operationsApril 1990
Subsidiaries
Fleet sizeSee Fleet below
HeadquartersToronto, Ontario, Canada

History

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In 1973, Owen Sound Air Services was founded as a flying school and charter airline.[2] Over the years, the airline grew by flying cargo for Purolator, Airborne Express, and Emery using Douglas DC-3s. In 1984, Soundair Corp. was created as a parent company. That same year, the airline acquired Aero Trades Western as well as its DC-3s and DC-4s.[3]

In 1984, Soundair created two new airlines, Commuter Express and Odyssey International. Commuter Express was to provide local airline service to Toronto Pearson International Airport. In 1986, The DC-4s were replaced with Convair CV-580s and the DC-3s with Fokker F27 Friendships.[4][5]

In 1988, Commuter Express became an Air Canada Connector and was renamed to Air Toronto. That same year, Odyssey International, a Toronto-based leisure airline, was founded and contracted cargo flights were rebranded as Soundair Express.

In 1990, the company entered receivership due to financial troubles and fell under control of Ernst & Young. Odyssey and Soundair Express ceased operations in April 1990 when Odyssey was purchased by Nation Air and Soundair Express was purchase by Canair Cargo.[1]

In 1991, Air Toronto was purchased by Ontario Express (Air Ontario) in November of that year.

Fleet

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Fleet as of receivership

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[3]
Aircraft Total
Dassault Falcon 2000 2
Douglas DC-8 1

Historic fleet

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Soundair Douglas DC-4
[3]
Aircraft Total
Douglas DC-4 3
Douglas DC-3 5
Piper PA-31T Cheyenne 1

Subsidiary fleet

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[5][4]
Aircraft Total Airline Notes
Swearingen Merlin IV/Metro 9-11 Air Toronto Replaced by Jetstream 31s
BAe Jetstream 31 15
Convair 340/440/580/640 3
Fairchild F-27 1
Boeing 757 5 Odyssey International
Boeing 737 -200 & -300 3

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Soundair Express history from Americas, Canada". Airline History. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  2. ^ "OSAS (Owen Sound Air Services) history from Americas, Canada". Airline History. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  3. ^ a b c "Soundair". rzjets.net. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  4. ^ a b "Air Toronto". rzjets.net. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  5. ^ a b "Odyssey International". rzjets.net. Retrieved 2020-03-06.