Today in History: Travel Department

[jon]

April 8, 1963: $11 flights to Calgary
By Edmonton Journal, edmontonjournal.com
April 8, 2012

Pacific Western Airlines’ air-bus service between Edmonton and Calgary costs travellers $11 one-way.

The new PWA service offered a minimum of frills for the passengers.

They had to carry their own luggage aboard, buy tickets during the one-hour flight from a ticket agent/cabin attendant, and move quickly through a 10-minute airport check-in time.

PWA flights departed from [downtown] Edmonton Municipal Airport.

Officials said the reduction in driving time and check-in time for travellers would reduce serious objections to air travel.

Free parking for passengers was also offered at the Municipal Airport.

ref. (and to see a picture) - http://www.edmontonjournal.com/travel/A ... story.html

[CubbyCam]

I was in Calgary at the time, and I remember that promotion vividly. I was 16, and about 5 months away from my first radio gig. Another time, another place. Thanks for the memory.

[jon]

At the time, an Edmonton DX'er told me that, for the rest of the '60s, PWA had a policy, and advertised it heavily, that you didn't need a reservation and would never miss your flight. Because they would -- get this -- add an extra airplane if they had even one too many passengers to fit on the scheduled flight.