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OWG

OWG, standing for Off We Go, was a Canadian and established as a division of . It focused on scheduled and ad hoc flights to sun destinations in the , , and from bases including Québec City, , and . Founded on July 6, 2020, and commencing operations on December 18, 2020, OWG operated a fleet of 737-400 aircraft wet-leased from its parent company. The ceased all operations on May 1, 2025.

History

Establishment

OWG was established on July 6, 2020, as a leisure-focused airline and division of the Canadian charter carrier . The announcement came amid the global , which had severely disrupted the aviation industry and led to widespread restrictions. Nolinor Aviation positioned OWG as a new to capitalize on the anticipated recovery in , offering scheduled flights to warm-weather destinations at competitive prices for Canadian passengers seeking affordable escapes. The motivation behind OWG's creation stemmed from Nolinor Aviation's expertise in charter operations to sun destinations, extended into a dedicated scheduled service to meet growing demand for budget-friendly vacation travel post-lockdowns. Targeting primarily and broader Canadian markets, OWG aimed to fill a gap left by reduced capacity from major carriers, emphasizing safety protocols developed during the , such as enhanced in-flight protections against COVID-19. On the same day as the founding announcement, Nolinor received regulatory approval from to operate these scheduled passenger services under the new brand. Branding for OWG was designed to evoke the thrill of departure and , with the standing for "Off We Go" and featuring a vibrant on 737-400 aircraft reconfigured for 158 economy seats to support cost-effective operations. Initial preparations focused on route planning and partnerships with operators like Sun Holidays and Caribe Sol to package flights with vacations. The inaugural flight was scheduled for December 2020 to , marking the official launch of services with the first departure from on December 18, 2020.

Operational Expansion

OWG commenced operations on December 18, 2020, with its inaugural revenue flight departing from Toronto Pearson International Airport to Santa Clara Abel Santamaría Airport in Cuba, marking the start of its focus on leisure travel to the Caribbean amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Although initial plans targeted a November launch, delays pushed the debut to December, with early services limited to weekly frequencies due to travel restrictions. From its bases in Montréal–Trudeau and Toronto Pearson, the airline quickly established routes to key Cuban destinations, including Varadero, Cayo Coco, Holguín, and Santa Clara, catering to Canadian demand for sun destinations. In 2021, OWG expanded its operational footprint by increasing flight frequencies and solidifying as a primary alongside Montréal, enabling broader access to winter leisure markets from . By mid-2022, the route network had grown to encompass regular services to , , and Santa Clara, with enhanced seasonal schedules supporting up to multiple weekly flights per destination during peak winter periods. This phase of growth reflected a strategic emphasis on reliability and capacity buildup, transitioning from pandemic-constrained operations to a more robust schedule serving thousands of passengers annually. Positioning itself as a low-cost leisure carrier, OWG targeted budget-conscious Canadian travelers seeking affordable escapes to sunny locales, particularly emphasizing seasonal winter sun holidays from major cities like Montréal and . Central to this strategy was a partnership with Hola Sun Holidays, announced in September 2020, which integrated OWG's flights into all-inclusive vacation packages that bundled airfare, accommodations, and transfers for seamless getaways. Through this collaboration, OWG facilitated ground services in via Hola Sun's local networks, including hotel arrangements and excursions, enhancing the end-to-end travel experience without direct operational involvement on the ground. By 2024, OWG had reached its peak operational scale, operating a consistent schedule of charter and scheduled leisure flights primarily to , with a strong focus on high-demand winter routes that provided Canadian passengers relief from harsh seasonal weather. The airline's growth during this period supported its role as a niche player in the competitive leisure market, prioritizing direct connectivity and value-driven packages over expansive geographic diversification.

Cessation

OWG's operations came to an end on May 1, 2025, after the full shutdown was announced by parent company in early 2025. The decision marked the conclusion of the airline's five-year run as a carrier focused on and Mexican routes from Canadian hubs. In its public statement, cited a strategic refocus on core charter services and northern operations as the driving factor behind discontinuing OWG. The announcement assured affected passengers that rebooking options would be facilitated through partnering carriers, minimizing disruptions for existing reservations. Following the halt, the OWG brand was fully dissolved, with its and assets reintegrated into Nolinor Aviation's fleet for use in and missions. This move allowed Nolinor to streamline resources amid a challenging landscape, though it ended OWG's unique passenger-focused identity in the Canadian market.

Operations

OWG ceased operations on May 1, 2025.

Bases and Infrastructure

OWG designated (YUL) as its primary hub, which served as the central point for the majority of its leisure departures to and southern destinations. This airport facilitated the airline's core operations, leveraging its position as a major gateway in . In 2021, OWG expanded its network by establishing (YYZ) as a secondary , enabling broader access to central Canadian passengers and supporting increased flight frequencies from the . This addition aligned with the airline's strategy to grow its market presence beyond . As a division of , OWG integrated with the parent company's established infrastructure, particularly for maintenance and logistical support. maintained its primary base at (YMX), located about 40 kilometers northwest of Montreal, where dedicated facilities handled aircraft upkeep and operational logistics. This arrangement provided OWG with reliable ground support, emphasizing efficient turnarounds to accommodate its focus on leisure travel schedules.

Destinations

OWG's route network centered on leisure travel primarily to Cuba, operating from its bases in Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL) and Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) to key international endpoints, including four in Cuba and one in Mexico as of its 2022 operational peak. The Cuban destinations included , accessed via Juan Gualberto Gómez (VRA), a renowned area on Cuba's northern coast featuring white-sand beaches and all-inclusive properties. Cayo Coco, served by Jardines del Rey (CCC), offered access to secluded cays with eco-tourism and luxury emphasizing marine activities. Holguín, via Frank País (HOG), connected travelers to eastern Cuba's Guardalavaca beaches, known for their coral reefs and cultural proximity to indigenous sites. Santa Clara, through (SNU), provided entry to the nearby , a developing zone with emphasis on family-oriented all-inclusive vacations. Additionally, starting in March 2022, OWG operated flights to Los Cabos, , via (SJD). These endpoints represented OWG's international portfolio, prioritizing tropical leisure over broader connectivity. Operations consisted of seasonal charter flights, typically running from fall through spring to align with Canadian winter demand, delivering passengers directly to resort areas without interim stops. Flight frequencies varied by route and season, with examples including up to four weekly services collectively across destinations and specific weekly rotations to from both Montréal and . These services integrated closely with tour operators like Hola Sun Holidays, bundling flights with all-inclusive vacation packages to enhance the leisure experience.

Fleet

OWG maintained a modest fleet of four , all models leased and operated by its parent company, , under the latter's . As of March 2024, this included three —registered C-GGWF, C-GGWV, and C-GGWX—each configured in an all-economy accommodating 158 passengers to support demands. Complementing these was one Boeing 737-800, registered C-FHNM, featuring a similar economy-only configuration with 189 seats for enhanced capacity on longer sectors. The aircraft were exclusively dedicated to OWG's sun destination operations, reflecting the 's emphasis on tropical charters without incorporation of wide-body types or alternative narrow-body variants.

Corporate Affairs

Ownership and Management

OWG operated as a wholly owned division of , established in 2020 to provide leisure travel services under the parent company's umbrella. As a , OWG did not hold its own (AOC) and relied entirely on Nolinor Aviation's existing AOC issued by for all flight operations. OWG ceased operations on May 1, 2025. Governance of OWG was fully integrated with , with all regulatory compliance and operational approvals managed through the parent's framework. Strategic decisions for OWG, including route development and fleet allocation, were aligned with Nolinor Aviation's core emphasis on services and operations, ensuring across the group's activities. Leadership at OWG was headed by Marco Prud’Homme, who served as President and oversaw the division's initiatives while also holding the position of President at . In this dual role, Prud’Homme reported directly to the board of , maintaining tight alignment between the subsidiary's leisure-focused operations and the parent's broader strategic objectives.

Employment and Headquarters

OWG's headquarters were located in , , where it shared facilities with its parent company, . The administrative operations were centered at this site, which served as the primary hub for corporate functions, including coordination of leisure flight services to tropical destinations. The airline reached a peak employment of approximately 250 staff by 2024, encompassing pilots, cabin crew, and administrative personnel, all of whom were employed under the payroll structure. This workforce supported OWG's specialized leisure operations, with a particular emphasis on and teams dedicated to promoting packages in partnership with tour operators. Training for flight and ground staff was conducted at the Mirabel facilities, utilizing Nolinor's dedicated aviation training center equipped with simulators for aircraft.

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