| 1946 |
Russell (Russ) Bradley forms Bradley Air Services Ltd. in Ottawa, Ontario, the capital city of Canada. |
| 1954 |
Bradley Air Services begins charter and aerial survey work for the DEWline construction in the vast, untamed Northwest Territories. |
| 1958 |
On contract for the Geological Survey of Canada, Russ & partner Weldy Phipps mount "tundra tires" on Piper Super Cubs, revolutionizing Arctic explorations capability in the process. |
| 1958-68 |
Charter operations in the Arctic Islands expand. Bradley Air Services is engaged by scientific & government agencies. |
| 1968 |
Bradley Air Services is awarded air support contract for the Polar Continental Shelf Project to in the Beaufort Sea and Tuktoyaktuk, NT. |
| 1971 |
The company opens the most northernly base commercial air service in the world at Eureka (600 mi from the North Pole). |
| 1973 |
Bradley Air Services Ltd creates FIRST AIR! |
| 1973 |
First Air opens a major base in Resolute Bay in the High Arctic. |
| 1973 |
First Air begins scheduled passenger flights linking Ottawa to North Bay & Sudbury (Ontario) using an 8 passenger aircraft. |
| 1974 |
First Air conducts the first commercial air operation in Antarctica for the US Navy's Ross Ice Shelf Project. |
| 1975 |
First Air opens its base in Iqaluit, in the Northwest Territories. |
| 1978 |
The Baffin operations and routes of Survair are purchased by First Air - securing a position for passenger and cargo services in the Northwest Territories. |
| 1986 |
First Air purchases its first Boeing 727-100C for cargo and passenger applications kicking off its first foray into providing jet services to the North. |
| 1987-94 |
The airline takes on the lateral support contract for DEWline resupplying stations from the Alaska border to Greenland. |
| 1990 |
Representing the Inuit of northern Quebec, Makivik Corporation, purchases First Air. |
| 1995 |
First Air purchases Ptarmigan Airways of Yellowknife further expanding the scope of charter operations capability in the western Arctic. |
| 1996 |
First Air celebrates its 50th anniversary as a northern airline! |
| 1997 |
First Air acquires NWT Air, solidifying its passenger, cargo and charter services throughout the entire North. First Air's enhanced partnership with Air Canada expands travel options for northerners. |
| 1999 |
First Air honours the creation of the new territory of Nunavut and the new Northwest Territories with an extensive program of customer initiatives under its 'Celebration '99' banner. |
| 2001 |
First Air migrates to one computer Reservation's system, Sabre therefore providing a more efficient operating system for reservations while enhancing the check-in process for our customers. |
| 2001 |
First Air selects ATR42-300 aircraft to begin replacement of the HS748 fleet. First aircraft to be deployed in western routes. |
| 2002 |
First Air is named one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies for its strong growth over the previous three years. The awards are sponsored by Andersen, CIBC, National Post and Queen's School of Business. |
| 2003 |
First Air launches electronic ticketing providing a fast and convenient service, and simplifying travel. |
| 2005 |
First Air introduces all passenger Boeing 737 jet service on its Ottawa-Iqaluit Route. |
| 2006 |
First Air celebrates its 60th anniversary as a Northern airline. |
| 2006 |
First Air introduces all passenger Boeing 737 jet service on its Edmonton-Yellowknife Route. |
| 2006 |
Second L-382 Hercules joins the First Air fleet. |
| 2008 |
First Air automates all its northern communities in both the Eastern and Western regions with Sabre Interact. |
| 2009 |
Baker Lake and Arviat join the First Air family. |
| 2009 |
First Air introduces the first wide body freighter to the fleet, a Boeing 767-223 SF (Super Freighter). |
