Royal Canadian Airlines: Bizarre Airline Startup Will Fly 777s To Iraq

Royal Canadian Airlines: Bizarre Airline Startup Will Fly 777s To Iraq

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Canada has seen quite a few airline startups lately, though nothing quite like this

Basics of Royal Canadian Airlines

Royal Canadian Airlines claims to be an airline startup that will launch operations in 2023. The airline describes itself as “a Canadian-owned and operated airline in the certification process to become one of Canada’s premier carriers offering non-stop direct services to destinations in the Middle East & Asia.”

Royal Canadian Airlines logo

The business plan is allegedly to fly Boeing 777-300ERs nonstop from Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) and Hamilton Airport (YHM) to the following destinations on a scheduled, non-scheduled, and charter basis:

  • Amritsar and Chandigarh, India
  • Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
  • Kuwait City, Kuwait
  • Lahore, Pakistan
  • Najaf, Iraq

But it gets more interesting than that. The company will be based at Goderich Municipal Airport (a tiny airport with no commercial air service), because flying 777s to long haul destinations is only part of the business plan. On top of that, the company plans to:

  • Operate an air taxi service
  • Operate a maintenance facility
  • Operate a pilot academy and flight school

The company’s owner has allegedly signed a 40-year lease with the airport, to be able to run his four different business models out of the airport. The company also allegedly has “the entire airport terminal building” for its use, has purchased the largest hangar, and has “12 acres of land on airport grounds” dedicated to the company’s future growth.

The airline has chosen a rather unusual picture for its website, showing what looks like very unhappy passengers with an EasyJet plane in the background.

Royal Canadian Airlines’ website

So, who is behind the airline? Someone named Waseem Javed. Who is that? I’m… not exactly sure? I mean, I see a couple of different Canadian LinkedIn profiles with that name, but neither mentions the airline, and neither has any obvious link to aviation.

Isn’t the world of airline “startups” fun?

I sure do get a thrill out of airline “startups,” no matter how real or fake they may be. In general, I tend to think airline startups fall into one of several categories.

On one end of the spectrum you have completely fake airlines that don’t exist, don’t really try to find investors, but rather just consist of someone with too much time on their hands. Global Ghana Airlines is an example of that, as it was obvious the airline was never going to launch.

Then you have airline “startups” that are essentially just intended to steal from investors, with no intention to actually launch operations. BALTIA is the prime example of that, as the airline sought investors for around three decades, with no real intent to ever start operations. And amazingly and sadly, so many people were fell for this obvious scam.

Then you have airline startups that really aren’t very well thought out, but where people are investing a significant amount of money, and where there are some semi-legitimate people behind it. Airbahn is an example of that, as it was founded by the same person behind Pakistani airline Airblue, and they even flew an A320 to the US to start operations. That didn’t end up materializing, though.

Airbahn never actually launched operations

And then you have legitimate airline startups, like Avelo, Breeze, etc.

So, where does Royal Canadian Airlines fall on this scale? Well, I mean, the company has allegedly entered into some sort of an agreement for space at a small municipal airport, and the town’s mayor is excited, so the airline is further along than Global Ghana Airlines ever got.

However, personally I don’t see the airline going much further than that. I’m still not sure what the motive is behind all of this, though.

Bottom line

Royal Canadian Airlines is an airline startup that plans to fly Boeing 777s in the highly competitive Hamilton to Najaf market, or something. That’s only part of the company’s business model though, as it plans to also offer a flight school, maintenance facility, and air taxi service.

This should be an interesting “airline” to follow…

What do you make of Royal Canadian Airlines?

(Tip of the hat to Michael)

Conversations (31)
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  1. Gurcharan Guest

    Hi
    I am still waiting for the announcement of flight to INDIA, Amritsar or Chandigarh???????

  2. Frank McDonald Guest

    Looks pretty legit to me. They are a federally incorporated entity registered to an address in Mississauga.

    This is what Corporations Canada shows:
    Royal Canadian Airline Group Inc. Active 1450723-1 791788417RC0001 206-2800 Skymark Avenue, Mississauga
    Ontario Canada L4W 5A6

  3. D. D. Howe Guest

    Obviously meant “wouldn’t” touch him…
    But sorry, was writing this in the wee hours.

  4. D.D. Howe Guest

    This guy (Waseem) has set up ‘flight schools’ and other arrangements at a few little airports.
    None have ended well for any involved except maybe for him.
    I would touch him with a pole as long as a 777

  5. Syed Guest

    Please start ASA possible

  6. HkCaGu Guest

    They’re not also flying to Detroit or Windsor to connect to a neighboring Arab population center?

  7. Brandon Biden Guest

    My first thought was a Business School term paper, thesis or similar,

    Very funny but they do need the school to create more pilots, once the Marxist regime of justin sees pilots becoming unaffordable

  8. Leigh Guest

    Obviously there’s no sensible business plan.

    My question…who would ever invest in such a nonsensical plan?

    Maybe they should invest in a Subway or similar franchise? Maybe invest in another company that’s already bankrupt?

  9. iamhere Guest

    I don't make anything of this. Many "start up" airlines go and come and I won't likely fly one in the near future anyway. Costs are usually much more and they usually do not go to/from where I need or want

  10. Kevin Guest

    Oh … non-stop direct flights? Which? Non-stop? Or direct?

  11. JB Guest

    There actually is a market for flights from Toronto to Lahore. PIA flies that route 2x weekly with heavily outdated 777-200LRs (and that goes out with very well loads) and thats despite their reputation and them not having a working IFE, and being more expensive than one stops on EK, EY, QR, TY, etc. So there is plenty of demand for another airline to come into the market if they have a good reputation and...

    There actually is a market for flights from Toronto to Lahore. PIA flies that route 2x weekly with heavily outdated 777-200LRs (and that goes out with very well loads) and thats despite their reputation and them not having a working IFE, and being more expensive than one stops on EK, EY, QR, TY, etc. So there is plenty of demand for another airline to come into the market if they have a good reputation and brand awareness.

    I think Air Canada could do well if they launched nonstop flights to Pakistan. The ME3 are restricted in flights to Canada whoch is why PIA does so well. I assume though it would only be max 2x weekly services per city per current demand.

  12. JTF Guest

    And in Canadian land transport: see https://www.royalcanadianpacific.com/

  13. claus Christensen Guest

    Lol, How do you make a billionaire into a millionaire?. Award him an airline certification.

    Pakistan? Why not North Korea and Afghanistan?

  14. LRAC Guest

    If this start up is indeed based in Ontario, Canada they’re already going to run into a problem. The Business Names Act restricts usage of certain terms. As the King is Head of State, the term “Royal Canadian,” is strictly controlled in Canadian law. Air regulators wouldn’t enforce it but the provincial and federal governments could do so at will. This is bizarre.

  15. Ahmed Ali Jarrud Guest

    All the best and good wishes.

  16. Dn10 Guest

    What ever happened to the woman who bought the rights to WOW airlines

  17. Anthony Guest

    This was attempted in the late 90's an airline startup out of Mississauga called Falcon Airlines to the same destinations their plan was with a B744.

  18. 23H Guest

    Hahaha good luck.

    AC can't get security approval to fly YUL-BEY nonstop - and there is certainly a large VFR market for that route. Najaf... okay.

  19. Jack Guest

    Definitely tapping in the booming Canada international student, refugees, temporary foreign worker crowd Canadian businesses love exploiting by offering somewhat direct flights, and probably swindling them.

  20. iv Guest

    I did some digging and they filed for a Canadian Trade Mark two weeks ago on September 11th. The company that filed is CANADA 1 AIRLINES INC. located at 2 Phelps Dr. Brampton, ONTARIO L6X3W2. The parent company of CANADA 1 AIRLINES INC. is 13507271 Canada Inc. The two Directors listed for that company are Mohamed Yasar Akbar Ali and Waseem Javed.

    Waseem Javed is also listed as a Director of Swift Airlines Inc....

    I did some digging and they filed for a Canadian Trade Mark two weeks ago on September 11th. The company that filed is CANADA 1 AIRLINES INC. located at 2 Phelps Dr. Brampton, ONTARIO L6X3W2. The parent company of CANADA 1 AIRLINES INC. is 13507271 Canada Inc. The two Directors listed for that company are Mohamed Yasar Akbar Ali and Waseem Javed.

    Waseem Javed is also listed as a Director of Swift Airlines Inc.

    And before anyone comes for me... ALL the above info is publicly available.

  21. DenB Diamond

    Most likely this was a stunt to get covered by avgeek sites. My money says they don't have the Goderich, Ontario airport, the mayor isn't excited, and the person named is fake.

    1. Seferan Guest

      They do have the lease at the Goderich airport, and the mayor that set up the deal passed away in a boating accident in August 2022.

  22. Endre Guest

    I thought the commercial use of sensitive words (e.g. Royal, Queen, King, Prince or Princess) as specified in the 2014 trademark regulations is prohibited in the commonwealth.

    1. Gary Lyon Guest

      You're absolutely right. Canadian entities cannot use the word 'royal' in company names under federal legislation. More evidence that this is not a serious project.

    2. LITO Guest

      there was an airline named Royal based in Montréal few years ago ...

    3. Eskimo Guest

      Can the Duchess of Montecito use it?

  23. LEo Diamond

    Just curious, are there laws in Canada that don't allow organizations to be named "Royal" or "Canadian" without permission? Asking because by naming it "Royal" people might be confused and through that, the business is owned by the government/Royals. There is a law requirement in China that prohibits organizations to be named "China/Chinese" without permission.

    1. Jason Guest

      Judging by the hundreds of small businesses named things like "Royal Pizza", "Queen Donair" and the defunct discount airline "Royal Airlines", the answer is an unequivocal "no".

  24. Ray Guest

    Look, maybe it’s an Iraqi high school or university student who was tasked with making a website for a business for his end of term project. No biggie

    1. Manazier Guest

      From the sound of the name, I'd say dude is of Pakistani/Indian origin.

    2. Ron Guest

      No, Really??? And he lives in Brampton too. Go figure.

Featured Comments Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ).

The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered.

Gary Lyon Guest

You're absolutely right. Canadian entities cannot use the word 'royal' in company names under federal legislation. More evidence that this is not a serious project.

2
iv Guest

I did some digging and they filed for a Canadian Trade Mark two weeks ago on September 11th. The company that filed is CANADA 1 AIRLINES INC. located at 2 Phelps Dr. Brampton, ONTARIO L6X3W2. The parent company of CANADA 1 AIRLINES INC. is 13507271 Canada Inc. The two Directors listed for that company are Mohamed Yasar Akbar Ali and Waseem Javed. Waseem Javed is also listed as a Director of Swift Airlines Inc. And before anyone comes for me... ALL the above info is publicly available.

2
LRAC Guest

If this start up is indeed based in Ontario, Canada they’re already going to run into a problem. The Business Names Act restricts usage of certain terms. As the King is Head of State, the term “Royal Canadian,” is strictly controlled in Canadian law. Air regulators wouldn’t enforce it but the provincial and federal governments could do so at will. This is bizarre.

1
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