Article

George William Grant McConachie

Published Online June 3, 2008

Last Edited March 4, 2015

Canadian Pacific Railway bought out his firm and 11 others in 1941 and appointed him general manager of the western lines (1942) and president of CP Air (1947). He inaugurated CP Air passenger services to Australia, Japan and Hong Kong and by 1957 had added a further 25 000 km of flight paths.
McConachie, Grant
McConachie pioneered airmail and passenger service and performed aerial exploration for the Alaska Highway and Canol projects (courtesy Canadian Airlines/F-62).

George William Grant McConachie

 George William Grant McConachie, airline executive (b at Hamilton, Ont 24 Apr 1909; d at Long Beach, Calif 29 June 1965). McConachie's family moved to Edmonton in 1910 and he was educated there. In 1931 he acquired an aircraft and flew fish from northern lakes and barnstormed prairie communities. He cofounded, then became president of, Independent Airways, and founded United Air Transport (later called Yukon Southern Air Transport) in 1933. He pioneered airmail and passenger service between Edmonton and Whitehorse (1939) and performed aerial exploration for the Alaska Highway and Canol projects.

Canadian Pacific Railway bought out his firm and 11 others in 1941 and appointed him general manager of the western lines (1942) and president of CP Air (1947). He inaugurated CP Air passenger services to Australia, Japan and Hong Kong and by 1957 had added a further 25 000 km of flight paths. He was awarded the MCKEE TROPHY in 1945 for his pioneering efforts in forging air service to the North.