Halifax Overseas Shuttle | 1979 | McDonnell Douglas DC-9-40

Halifax Overseas Shuttle
AIRFRAME - McDonnell Douglas DC-9-40
REGISTRATION - C-GNKA
BASE - Halifax Stanfield International Airport [YHZ]

Halifax Overseas Shuttle's launch in 1979 was a huge success. The sole DC-9-40, registered as C-GNKA was flown to over 15 destinations. With high passenger numbers, and a sudden surge in profits came expansion. By 1980, Halifax Overseas Shuttle had seven DC-9-40s on order from the McDonnell Douglas leasing division. Louis McKeen was taken aback by the sudden success of his startup, and grew his executive team from 6 to 17 people.

British Global sent support across the Atlantic, sending multiple management officials to help Halifax Overseas Shuttle manage its rapidly growing operations. Halifax Overseas Shuttle began talks with McDonnell Douglas to look into leasing the DC-9-30, to allow the company to begin flights to both Florida and the Caribbean. The company also looked into leasing DHC-7s to serve smaller cities in Quebec & Nova Scotia. After British Global's intervention, Halifax Overseas Shuttle consolidated its orders for DC-9-40s, along with ordering both DC-9-30s and DHC-7s. As revenue increased, McKeen made a deal with McDonnell Douglas to purchase 3 of the airline's 8 leased jets, for a then undisclosed discount. Months later, the airline purchased a single DC-9-50 second hand. As 1980 progressed, the press leaked that Halifax Overseas Shuttle was in talks with McDonnell Douglas for an undisclosed amount of DC-10-40s to cross the Atlantic.

Personal Notes:

Brand hiatus until July 9th, I'll see y'all back then