Saskatchewan Government Airways

Villagers meet Saskatchewan Government Airways plane at Stony Rapids, 1951.
Saskatchewan Archives Board R-A3046

Saskatchewan Government Airways (SGA; Saskair), the province's first and only government-owned commercial airline, was formed through Order-in-Council No. 1200/47 on August 15, 1947. It was created by the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation government, elected in 1944, to operate a provincial air service to northern Saskatchewan - as a commercial airline and as an aid in the development of the region. The Crown corporation maintained operations until 1965, when the newly elected Liberal government sold it to a consortium of private investors to form North Canada Air Limited, more commonly known as NORCANAIR.

James Winkel