the airline was established in august 1974 as a flight training and charter operator. scheduled airline operations began in 1980. in the 1980s, the company also developed its airborne maritime surveillance division, which operated until 1989 as atlantic airways. in 1988, it acquired eastern flying service (established in 1956 and operating an extensive air courier network). in 1995, it created an interprovincial airlines division to operate scheduled airline operations and entered into a commercial agreement with air nova. it is a partner, with the innu development limited partnership, in innu mikun airlines, which serves the labrador coast.