In the summer of 1986, Ranger Helicopters of Toronto started a high frequency helicopter shuttle service using three Aerospatiale AStars and a TwinStar painted in Air Canada colours to fly between downtown Toronto and Lester B. Pearson International Airport. The helicopter service was designed to help Air Canada increase its market share in the high yield business travel market in Toronto and provide a downtown connecting service for passengers heading to Montreal and Ottawa. The AStars were extremely reliable and achieved 99.94 percent availability.
The service was an immediate success and soon became known as the “Air Canada Express”. The flight from downtown Toronto to Pearson International took only 10 minutes, compared to a minimum of 45 minutes by car, making it an attractive option for business travelers who were short on time. The flight also offered breathtaking views of Toronto and its surroundings, with a panoramic view of the city from the air.
