Air North Charter and Training Ltd., operating as , is a Canadian airline based in Whitehorse, Yukon. It operates scheduled passenger and cargo flights throughout Yukon, as well as between Yukon and the Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario. The airline also operates scheduled flights between Yellowknife and Vancouver and Edmonton as well as charter flights throughout Canada and Alaska.

The airline provides ground handling services and fuel services to other airlines throughout The Yukon, and it previously provided ground handling services for other carriers at Calgary International Airport, Vancouver International Airport and Edmonton International Airport. Its main base is Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport.

History

The Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation of Old Crow also began investing in Air North during this time. This investment enabled Air North to acquire two Boeing 737-200 jets in 2002.

In 2010, the airline started a new fleet expansion and modernization plan, purchasing a 737-400 and a winglet-equipped 737-500.

In 2017, two ATR 42 combi aircraft were introduced to replace existing HS748 aircraft, ending worldwide scheduled passenger HS-748 service. With newer aircraft in service, the three 737-200s and five HS-748s were retired or sold. Some are now parked behind Air North's maintenance base and used for spare parts and staff training.

During the 2021 Canadian federal election, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh's campaign chartered an Air North Boeing 737-500.

In 2024, the company's fleet was further updated with the introduction of two 737-800 aircraft. Both are equipped with winglets, improved performance and updated, Boeing Sky-style interiors.

Since the arrival of the Boeing 737s, the main Air North base in Whitehorse has steadily expanded. It now includes the original hangar which is now used as a cargo warehouse and ground equipment shop, a new aircraft maintenance hangar, a reservations and administration building, an operations centre, an in-house catering and cabin services department, and a fueling facility. Air North also operates secondary bases in Vancouver, B.C. and Dawson City, Yukon. The in-house catering building opened in the mid-2000s, enabling Air North to offer in-flight meals. Yukon products are featured when possible, and often include Midnight Sun coffee and Yukon Brewing beer. Air North launched its inflight magazine in partnership with North of Ordinary Media in February 2007. Now owned by Nordwind Inc. in Whitehorse published as The Yukon Magazine, it is released quarterly and is available in-flight, by subscription, and at select retailers across Canada.

The remainder of Air North's revenue comes from ground handling services at Whitehorse and Old Crow, as well as Jet-A refueling services and the operation of a bistro at Whitehorse's airport. Air North is currently the main provider of Jet-A fuel service in Whitehorse. It is the ground handler for WestJet as well as the main FBO provider in Whitehorse.

In May 2022, Air North launched its inaugural twice-weekly flight to Toronto via Yellowknife.

Air North is now owned by Joseph Sparling (close to 51%) (President, CEO, and Boeing 737 Captain), the Vuntut Development Corporation (49%), an arm of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, and, as of 2026, more than 2,400 individual Yukoners (less than 0.1% total). Air North is one of the largest private sector employers in Yukon. As of 2015 it has over 500 employees.

In July and August 2026, Air North announced new, year round service between Yellowknife and Edmonton beginning in December 2026. As well, a new seasonal service between Vancouver and Kamloops beginning in May 2027 was also announced.

Destinations Most of Air North's work is scheduled passenger and cargo flights between Whitehorse and Vancouver, Kelowna, Victoria, Calgary, Edmonton, Dawson City, Old Crow, and Inuvik. It also has summer seasonal service to, Ottawa and Toronto. Air North also runs regular freight trips and fuel-haul flights to the fly-in only community of Old Crow, Yukon. In addition to scheduled routes, Air North also offers passenger, combi, cargo, and fuel-haul charter services to anywhere in North America with the ATR 42s and Boeing 737s. Regular charter customers include mine operators, cruise ship tour operators, fishing lodges, and sports teams.

Scheduled flights

, Air North provides scheduled service to the following 13 destinations. Country Province/territory City Airport Notes Canada Alberta Calgary Calgary International Airport Edmonton Edmonton International Airport British Columbia Kamloops Kamloops Airport Kelowna Kelowna International Airport Vancouver Vancouver International Airport Victoria Victoria International Airport Northwest Territories Inuvik Inuvik (Mike Zubko) Airport Yellowknife Yellowknife Airport Ontario Ottawa Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport Toronto Toronto Pearson International Airport Yukon Dawson City Dawson City Airport Old Crow Old Crow Airport Whitehorse Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport

Interline agreements Air North currently has interline agreements with the following airlines: China Airlines Condor Hahn Air Philippine Airlines WestJet

In addition, Air North has a domestic baggage transfer agreement with Air Canada.

Fleet Current fleet , the Air North fleet have eleven aircraft listed on their website and registered with Transport Canada.

+ Air North fleetAircraftTC / ANT listVariantsPassengersNotes ATR 42 4 2 - ATR 42-3002 - ATR 42-320 42 / cargo Air North lists all four aircraft as ATR 42-320 with one a dedicated cargo aircraft Boeing 737 Classic 5 1 - 737-4004 - 737-500 156122 Boeing 737 Next Generation 2 737-800174 Total 11

Historic fleet

Aircraft previously operated include:

Beechcraft Model 18 Beechcraft Model 99 Beechcraft Queen Air Boeing 737-200 Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander Cessna 150 Cessna 172 Cessna 185 Skywagon Cessna 206 Cessna Skymaster de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou Douglas DC-3 Douglas DC-4 Fairchild F-11 Husky Hawker Siddeley 748 Piper PA-31 Navajo

Livery

Air North's aircraft are painted white except for the lettering on the fuselage, wings, and vertical stabilizer. On the fuselage, the words "Air North" and "Yukon's Airline" are painted, although the positioning varies by aircraft type. On aircraft without winglets, "flyairnorth.com" is painted somewhere on the fuselage.

The tail is painted orange with a stylized "Yukon" printed in white.

On aircraft with winglets, the outside is designed like the tail, with an orange background and the stylized "Yukon" printed on it. On the inside, "flyairnorth.com" is printed.

Accidents and incidents On 20 September 1987, Piper PA-31 Navajo C-GPAC crashed on a flight from Whitehorse to Juneau, Alaska, killing all five on board. The plane crashed into a glacier at . On 19 August 1995, Douglas C-47B C-GZOF crashed on approach to Vancouver International Airport, Richmond, British Columbia, killing one of the three crew. The aircraft was on a ferry flight to Prince Rupert Airport when the starboard propeller went into overspeed and the decision was made to return to Vancouver International. On 14 August 1996, Douglas DC-4 C-FGNI crashed shortly after takeoff from Bronson Creek mine in Northern British Columbia with three crew and a full load of gold ore cargo on board. On climbout, number 2 engine caught fire and eventually separated from the aircraft. The crew attempted to bring the aircraft back to land, but the aircraft could not maintain altitude on three engines and the crew instead landed in the Iskut River about west of the Bronson Creek airstrip, where all three crew were able to escape the wreckage. The first officer and load master swam to shore, but the captain was never found and presumed to have drowned.

Chieftain Energy

In 2014, Air North and the Kluane Dana Shäw Limited Partnership (a Kluane First Nation entity) formed Chieftain Energy. Chieftain is a transport, fuel, heating oil, and lubricant distributor. In 2017, Chieftain acquired an Alberta-based fuel distribution company and entered the bulk fuel, transportation, home heating, and cardlock business. That way, Chieftain became an important part of the Air Norths group.

Black Wolf Bistro

In 2024, Air North opened the Black Wolf Bistro at Whitehorse International Airport (landside). It is the only eatery at that airport. Focusing on departing passengers, it offers breakfast and lunch. In 2026, the bistro added "The Cache", an airside vending machine of fresh snacks.

The Yukon Magazine The Yukon Magazine (TYM), formerly The Yukon North of Ordinary, is a quarterly arts, travel, and culture magazine in Yukon, Canada. The magazine was first published in February 2007. It is also the official inflight magazine for Air North.

References

External links