SunFlyer 727 combo.

Introducing the Canadian SunFlyer to the airline scene.

The flashy 80s had just begun, introducing fast futuristic cars, trendy neon lights and funky clothing to the world. One place where this decade was very noticeable was Florida, more specifically Miami. Two Canadian businesswomen, Kathryn Picard and Mireille Boucher, had the idea of starting a holiday airline flying holidaymakers to holiday destinations in the U.S.A, focussing mainly on Florida and Miami. They had their first 727 roll out of the paint hangar two years later in 1983 and their first passenger on board just two weeks later. The airline started off extremely well, under the management of both Kathryn and Mireille growing their fleet to almost 25 jets at the end of the 1980s. They were the only female airline CEO's in the entire airline business at that time, facing sexism multiple times by investors unwilling to invest in the company if they would not step down as leaders of the airline.

Bit by bit the airline became a household name, with at least 8% of the canadian population having flown with them. The service on board was extremely good together with a spotless safety record and on time performance. Sadly the high flying airline quickly started to descend into low hanging thunder. Both women were eventually fired from the airline by a small group of directors by falsifying the financial results and putting Kathryn and Mireille in a bad spotlight. This was the key to the airline's downfall. The follow-up management bought new aircraft and expanded at an alarming rate, operating with extremely narrow profit margins, something the previous CEO's always avoided by focussing only on the market they knew best. This decline went on for quite some years.

During the recession in the early 90s the then CEO of SunFlyer, Frank Freestone, was arrested on suspicions of posessing child pornography, putting the airline in a very bad spotlight. Combining this with the recession and oil crisis of 1990, it was almost over and out for the company. Passenger numbers continued to drop and eventually planes were getting sold. Kathryn and Mireille proposed a return to their old positions, but this was quickly blocked by the son of Freestone, who was currently the acting CEO while his father was on trial.

On the 29th of August 1993 their last jet, which was also the first one to have joined the airline, C-SNJA, touched down at Montreal Itl. airport for the last time, joining several other 727s parked in a far away corner. The passengers on board included Kathryn and Mireille, wanting to show support to the crew and passengers. They both kissed the door when exiting the aircraft leaving two red lips behind them.