Canada air mail
A nostalgic topic!
Canada Air Mail, also known as Airmail, was a postal service offered by Canada Post, the country's national postal service, from 1918 to 1978. It was a special service that allowed people to send mail and packages by air, rather than by traditional surface mail.
Here are some interesting facts about Canada Air Mail:
- First flight: The first airmail flight in Canada took place on February 26, 1918, when a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) plane flew from Toronto to Montreal, carrying a load of mail.
- Early days: In the early years, airmail was flown by RCAF planes, and the service was limited to major cities. The first international airmail flight was made in 1929, when a plane flew from Toronto to New York City.
- Expansion: As air travel became more common, Canada Air Mail expanded to more routes and destinations. By the 1950s, airmail was available to most major cities in Canada and the United States.
- Special stamps: Canada Post issued special airmail stamps, which featured iconic Canadian images, such as the beaver, the maple leaf, and the Rocky Mountains.
- Famous flights: Some notable airmail flights included the 1933 flight from Vancouver to Hong Kong, which was the first airmail flight to Asia, and the 1959 flight from Toronto to London, which was the first airmail flight to Europe.
- Decline: With the introduction of commercial jet airliners in the 1960s, the need for dedicated airmail flights decreased. Canada Air Mail was eventually phased out in 1978, and regular mail was flown on commercial airlines instead.
Today, Canada Post continues to offer a range of mail services, including international airmail, but the nostalgic charm of Canada Air Mail remains a beloved part of Canadian postal history.