Hangar Aviation Night at the DCA
Memories of Flight: The History of Commercial Aviation
- Date: Monday, December 7
- Time: 5:30 – 7:30pm
- Cost: $15 Admission / $10 DCA Activity members
*This evening is suitable for ages 10 and older. All minors must be accompanied by an adult.
Hands-On History: Hold, examine, and explore authentic aviation museum artifacts.
Evolution of Commercial Airlines Presentation
The Canadian commercial aviation industry experienced tremendous growth throughout the 20th century and the Canadian airlines pioneered aggressive marketing tactics to win passengers and routes, from luxury perks and loyalty programs to vanity packages and memorable promotional giveaways.
As competition heated up, carriers took creative risks to stand out. Some strategies succeeded; others fell completely flat:
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Wardair: Positioned itself around high-end luxury in the sky.
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Pacific Western Airlines (PWA): Relied on kitschy, tongue-in-cheek promotional items.
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Canadian Pacific (CP Air): Leaned into the era’s sexist marketing and the exploitation of flight attendants.
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TCA / Air Canada: Anchored its image as the steady, reliable, and trustworthy national brand.
These historic airlines have shaped the industry today and demonstrate the progress made in terms of working conditions, as well as the level of service currently available to Canadian travelers.
Flight Simulators Presentation
Join us for a special feature presentation at the end of the evening with Calgary’s own Altitude Flight Simulation. Learn about taking the controls in realistic, full-scale Boeing 737, F-18 Hornet, F-16 Viper, and WWII Spitfire VR simulators guided by expert instructors. Plus, all attendees will receive an exclusive discount code to book an upcoming flight experience at altitudesim.ca!
