Canada travel industry icon and co-founder of charter airline Canada 3000, Angus J. Kinnear, passed away on 28OCT.
“It is with a very heavy heart that I have to advise that Angus J Kinnear passed away yesterday [28OCT] in the DR due to COVID complications,” said Susan Webb on Facebook. Webb is the President of travel and hospitality marketing company VoX International Inc., as well as a former Canada 3000 employee.
“He was an amazing man and a dynamic leader. Canada 3000 was a wonderful company to work for! He will be missed but not forgotten,” she continued.
The news comes nearly 20 years after the closure of Canada 3000, which shut down in late 2001 following 9/11 terrorist attacks and the subsequent downturn in air travel. At the time, the discount charter airline offered service to over 90 destinations, with its 51-aircraft fleet making it the largest charter carrier in the world.
Canada 3000 was founded in Toronto and began charter service in 1988. In early 2001, it became Canada’s second-largest airline with the acquisition of Royal Aviation and CanJet. It also became one of the country's largest vacation providers through its Canada 3000 Holidays subsidiary, flying to sun and European destinations.
Former Canada 3000 employees, as well as others in the Canadian travel industry, remember Kinnear fondly in notes to Open Jaw and on social media.
“In all my years in the industry, I don’t know if I ever met anyone quite like Angus. Visionary, entrepreneur, tremendous leader and perfectionist (as a former colleague put it, ‘He loved shiny airplanes and hated the passengers who tended to make them dirty.’) Angus inspired huge loyalty amongst his staff and made them feel so proud to be part of ‘C3.’ Not without his eccentric moments, he was devoted to aviation and flying. That was his life,” said Martha Chapman, Tourism Marketing International.
“Angus J. Kinnear wasn’t just a ‘boss’ but a great leader who saw something in me that I never knew was there,” said Angela Saclamacis, Previous Manager Corporate Communications at Canada 3000, on Facebook.
Webb added that Kinnear “remembered everyone’s name,” and even had nicknames for many of his team.
“If the aircraft were not performing perfectly and were running any delays, he would come down to the maintenance department at 27 Fasken and say in his proper English accent ‘Perhaps we should get into another line of business, because we don't seem to be doing a very good job of running an airline, do we?’” she recalled to Open Jaw.
Former Canada 3000 employees have planned events for the 20th anniversary of Canada 3000 at YYZ and YVR, and Webb noted on Facebook that they will now focus on honouring and remembering Kinnear.
“Our beloved AJK, is now onto his new destination. He was a VERY private person and would not like any fuss or attention. However, our soirées in Toronto and Vancouver will now be in his honour,” added Saclamacis.
