History repeats itself in Lethbridge
By Lethbridge Herald on February 27, 2026.
Dear Editor,
“Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it,” (Churchill.) What I remember growing up in Lethbridge is at one time there were three scheduled flights a day from TCA, Air Canada’s forerunner. (Also, a return flight once a day, by Western Air: Calgary/Great Falls with a stop in Lethbridge.)
Then TCA announced since planes were not full, three daily flights would be replaced by two flights with larger aircraft. Soon after, the further announcement, since the two planes were not full, they would be replaced by one flight in a larger plane. Then the final announcement, since that plane was not full and it was not economical for TCA to operate at a loss, service for Lethbridge would be discontinued. Western Airlines flights also disappeared around that time.
While I cannot remember dates of these events, I remember that for a small city, it presented an inconvenience, with driving to Calgary the alternative. That matter was remedied several years later when Stubb Ross initiated Time Air with several flights a day in smaller aircraft. That proved to be a financial success and gradually more flights and more destinations proved convenient to Lethbridge and area residents. Small planes on regular schedules proved beneficial to Time Air and to the population of Southern Alberta.
Unfortunately, large corporations do not like competition. Air Canada and WestJet applied for permits to add flight from Lethbridge. Transport Canada, thinking competition was good, approved. Ultimately that spelled the death Knell for Time Air. Time Air provided destinations across the province but also flights to and from Vancouver. So of course, the larger competitors added those routes as well. Too much competition resulted in Time Air sold to the larger competitor and ultimately a decrease in scheduling until Covid shut everything down.
Although Lethbridge is a larger city now, Air Canada chose not to resume service after Covid.
WestJet did with its affiliate smaller airline. I was on flights from Lethbridge last summer when the plane was full to capacity. I also know there were flights this winter with less than a dozen people on a nearly empty plane. I surmised last year when WestJet moved two flights a day to one flight with a larger plane this would happen. The underlying question is whether WestJet ignored the past history or chose to go this way to ultimately justify discontinuing service.
Gordon Lowe,
Lethbridge County
10-9
Seeing as you are from the county can I add you to the list of those in the County who danced in the street the day they handed this dog off to the City for 4.5 million.
Waiting for an unknown friend coming forward and receiving healthy subsidies from taxpayers to buy and airplane and provide service at reduced rates, with those being subsidized as wells.
In 2013 and 2018 I flew Lethbridge to Toronto Air Canada Express operated by Central Mountain Air to Calgary and then on by main line jet. Fare was about $50 more than either Westjet or AC Calgary to Toronto. Not worth the drive and parking was much less at YQL. AC could do this as YQL was a feeder for their main line. I believe there were 5 flights out per day on the 19 passenger Beechcraft. Half full then was the break even point. Along comes the 2018 City takeover shortly followed by them luring Westjet here. Westjet brings in Pacific Coastal Air with their Saab 34 passenger plane and the erosion begins: the race to the bottom.