Meet Tim Morgan: Founder of Lynx Air and co-founder of WestJet

In the aviation industry, Tim Morgan’s name is synonymous with “pioneer.” Known as a founder of WestJet, Enerjet (now Lynx Air), Morgan Air (Air Partners), and Unity Aviation, the airline entrepreneur played a big role in laying the foundation for the ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) market in Canada.

But Morgan’s ambitions weren’t always met with anticipation. Like many dreamers before (and after) him, adversity and diversion could have grounded his aspirations.

He joined Skies for a virtual interview from an office in a hangar full of shiny corporate aircraft; it’s formally known as Morgan Air Services, a substantial flight training operation that now belongs to Air Partners — Morgan’s aircraft management business.

With over 40 years of aviation experience, Morgan has explored every facet of the industry; he admits he has enough stories to fill a novel.

“I grew up on a farm east of Calgary; I still own the farm,” he said. “Crop-dusting airplanes caught my attention and sparked my interest in aviation.”

Fascinated by the agricultural aircraft, Morgan later enrolled at Mount Royal College (known today as Mount Royal University), and completed the aviation program in 1974.

“I learned to fly at the North American Air Training College,” he recalled. “We learned how to fly on a Grumman Trainer AA-1 — a two-seat, 100-horsepower, low-wing airplane.”

Morgan admitted that, at the time, “life was pretty difficult for pilots trying to find a job.” So, he acquired his instructor rating and, “like many other pilots looking for hours,” he began teaching others to fly.

“I got a commercial pilot’s license and a multi-engine IFR on a Piper Twin Comanche, and it went from there. I made a career of it and was lucky to do so.”

Today, he’s flown over 60 aircraft types: “everything from single engines, to turboprops, and [Boeing] 737s.”

Always anticipating the next adventure, he founded his own flight training organization, Morgan Air Services. But Morgan was determined to follow his dream of becoming a corporate pilot, so he hired a “young fellow” to run the flight school. Although no longer conducting flight training, it is known today as Air Partners, “a premier 604/704 operation.”

In 1994, WestJet was born out of a “what if” conversation amongst a group of business-minded aviation enthusiasts. They were looking to create a low-cost air transportation business model. At the time, the venture was based on the success of Southwest Airlines, a cost-efficient flight experience unlike anything Canadians had seen before.

For Morgan and his partners, the hope was that WestJet would become the first Canadian carrier to open up flying to a demographic who often perceived air travel as a luxury. They wanted flying to be “just a friendly, enjoyable part of the journey,” rather than a significant expense between the individual and the destination.

“Fifty to 60 percent [of people] never fly,” he said, “because they just can’t [afford to]. So, there’s lots of room for stimulation.”

He believed in the WestJet project, so much so that he mortgaged his own home to fund his portion of the costs.

Looking back, he admitted that some balked at the idea of starting an airline, saying it would never last.

Instead, the Calgary-based commercial carrier grew to become the second-largest airline in Canada and “arguably the most successful,” said Morgan.

“[WestJet] was incorporated out of my old hangar, the oldest hangar on the airport here in Calgary, right out of the flight school,” he added. “And that’s where the company started, we built it up from there.

“That story, as you know, is still being written.”

When asked about the accolades he’s received, Morgan remembered when he and his partners won honors as Canada’s “entrepreneurs of the year” (2000) for their work with WestJet.

He vividly remembers landing in a helicopter at the event, thinking, “What the heck am I doing here? All I did was start an airline and provide people with what they wanted,” he laughed.

“But, to be honored by the world for what you’ve done… it’s pretty incredible,” he acknowledged, adding that his success was always driven by the hard-working people alongside him.

As for Enerjet, the Covid-19 pandemic, combined with the global grounding of the Boeing 737 Max, had delayed the carrier – which was transitioning into the ULCC market – from getting off the ground. That is, until late 2021 when it reemerged with a new name, Lynx Air.

“[Lynx] will be very successful; we’ve got the right people,” said Morgan.

No longer the chief executive officer or chief operating officer of Lynx, Morgan said he’s stepping back.

“I am an advisor. I’ll continue to do so for the foreseeable future,” he added.

When asked what he’s looking forward to these days, he responded jokingly, “Haven’t I done enough?”

In all seriousness, Morgan remains grateful for all that he has been able to accomplish, including the current stage in his career, where he gets to “play” in aviation.

“Air Partners is now run by my son-in-law, Vik Saini. Admittedly, he’s much better at it than I was,” he jested. “They operate 17 corporate jets, [making it] one of Canada’s premier corporate jet operators in the Pacific Northwest.”

These days, there’s not as much pressure on Morgan to prove himself. With that weight off his shoulders, he is reminded of what drew him into this industry in the first place: his love for flying.

“I get to play in the business that I love,” he said. “I still get to fly airplanes, hold both Canadian and U.S. ATP [certificates], and be a business person. I’ve got the dream job.”