Air Ontario Inc. was a regional Canadian airline headquartered in Sarnia then London, Ontario. In 2002, Air Ontario became Air Canada Jazz. History Great Lakes Airlines was formed in 1958, becoming Air Ontario Ltd. in 1983 and Air Ontario Inc. in June 1987. By 1975, GLA was in trouble and was purchased by a partnership which included James Plaxton, who brought in to the capital the DeLuce family when he merged it with their Austin Airways operation. In 1986, Air Canada and Pacific Western Airlines split 49% of the shares. In 1987, Air Canada and Austin split the shares in a 3:1 ratio upon its Canadian incorporation. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Air Canada, Air Ontario's operation as an Air Canada Connector code sharing partner increased substantially in the intra-Ontario marketplace with Air Canada's decision in February 1990, to discontinue Mainline service to North Bay, Sudbury, Timmins and Windsor. Route expansion from Toronto Island Airport nonstop to both Montreal and Ottawa soon followed, along with the addition of new routes into the United States. In December 2000, Air Ontario was amalgamated into Air Canada. In January 2001, a newly merged carrier called Air Canada Regional Inc. was established. A wholly owned subsidiary of Air Canada, this company combined the individual strengths of four regional airlines—Air BC, Air Nova, Air Ontario, and Canadian Regional Airlines. Consolidation of these four companies was completed in 2002 and was marked by the launch of a new name and brand—Air Canada Jazz. Fleet As of 2001, the Air Ontario fleet comprised the following turboprop aircraft: 41 – de Havilland Canada DHC-8-100 7 – de Havilland Canada DHC-8-300 Total aircraft in fleet in 2001: 48 The airline also previously operated Convair 580 turboprop and Fokker F28 Fellowship jet aircraft. The Convair 580 was initially operated in Air Canada Connector service along with the Dash 8 while the F28 was the only jet aircraft type ever flown by Air Ontario. Destinations in 1984 Air Ontario was operating Convair 580 turboprops (later replaced by Fokker F28 Fellowship in 1989) as an independent air carrier with scheduled passenger service to the following destinations in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec as well as to two destinations in the United States in 1984: Ontario London — London International Airport Ottawa — Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport Sarnia — Sarnia Chris Hadfield Airport Sudbury — Sudbury Airport Toronto — Toronto