In 1952 the airline was formed as Wardair and operations began on 6 June 1953 using a single engine de Havilland Canada Otter.

From a modest start as Polaris Charter Company in the mid 1940s operating small bi-planes such as the De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth.

"Steak & Champagne" flights was a popular advertising tag line in the 1980s, and won various awards from magazines for their service (Holiday Which?

Flight attendants served food on Wardair-branded Royal Doulton china on tray-table tablecloths on the passenger tray.

[citation needed] The operations from the early 1950s were small bush-type runs based in Edmonton, Alberta, and Yellowknife, NWT.

Nonetheless, Edmonton continued to operate as a major transatlantic hub for Wardair, with flights to Prestwick, London Gatwick, Amsterdam Schiphol, and Frankfurt.