Zip (airline)
Low-cost airline of Canada (2002–2004)
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Zip was a Canadian discount airline headquartered in Hangar 101 at Calgary International Airport, Calgary, Alberta.[1] It was launched by Air Canada as a no-frills subsidiary in September 2002. It operated a fleet of 12 Boeing 737 aircraft, each painted in a bright, neon colour (blue, fuchsia, green, and orange) with a single class of service. The subsidiary was headed by former WestJet CEO, Steve Smith.[2]
(re-integrated into Air Canada)
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 Zip Boeing 737-200 in the orange livery | |||||||
| |||||||
| Founded | September 22, 2002 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ceased operations | September 2004 (re-integrated into Air Canada) | ||||||
| Aeroplan | |||||||
| Alliance | Star Alliance (affiliate; 2002–2004) | ||||||
| Parent company | Air Canada | ||||||
| Headquarters | Hangar 101, Calgary International Airport, Calgary, Alberta | ||||||
| Key people | Steve Smith | ||||||
| Website | 4321ZIP.com | ||||||
As a direct competitor to Canada's leading low-cost carrier WestJet, Zip flew mostly between the western cities of Abbotsford, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Saskatoon, Regina and Winnipeg.[3]
Zip ceased operations in September 2004 when Air Canada resumed a full schedule on its western routes.[4]
Destinations
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As of August 2004, Zip flew to the following destinations:[5][3]
| Province / Territory | City | Airport | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | Calgary | Calgary International Airport | Launch Destination, Headquarters |
| Edmonton | Edmonton International Airport | Launch Destination | |
| British Columbia | Abbotsford | Abbotsford International Airport | |
| Vancouver | Vancouver International Airport | Launch Destination | |
| Victoria | Victoria International Airport | ||
| Manitoba | Winnipeg | Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport | Launch Destination |
| Ontario | Ottawa | Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport | |
| Quebec | Montreal | Montréal–Trudeau International Airport | |
| Saskatchewan | Regina | Regina International Airport | |
| Saskatoon | Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport | ||
Fleet
Zip operated a fleet consisting entirely of Boeing 737-200 aircraft, all obtained from the existing Air Canada fleet.[6]
| Aircraft | Number | Passengers (Executive*/Economy) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-200 | 20 | 118 | |
| Total | 20 |
Livery
Zip's aircraft were painted in bright, neon colours on the fuselage, tail, and engines. Specifically, the colours blue, fuchsia, green, and orange were painted.
The fuselage was painted in the aircraft's colour, except for a white silhouette of a bee, with white dots trailing it. These dots extended to the back to the fuselage, leading to the tail of the aircraft, where Zip's logo was painted. On the engines, Zip's website, 4321zip.com was printed in white.
Towards the end of the airline, some aircraft were painted in a different livery. The main fuselage was white, with a small bee on the side of the nose. The 4321zip.com website was printed on the fuselage as well. The tail sectioned retained the same logo but with striping on the back. These were also in the original colors of blue, fuchsia, orange and green.
One aircraft was painted in a special Christmas livery with a red nose, a smile under the nose, and a large red & white striped scarf stretching down the fuselage.
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