Canadian North

Canadian North
IATA ICAO Callsign
5T MPE EMPRESS
Founded 1998 (1989 as a subsidiary of Canadian Airlines)
Hubs
Frequent-flyer program
Fleet size 16[1]
Destinations 18[2]
Company slogan seriously northern
Parent company Inuvialuit Development Corporation (IDC).
Headquarters Calgary, Alberta
Key people Steve Hankirk, President[3]
Website canadiannorth.com

Canadian North Inc. is an airline headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It operates scheduled passenger services to communities in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Southern gateways include Edmonton and Ottawa. Its main base is Edmonton Airport.[4]

History

The airline was established in 1989 as a subsidiary of Canadian Airlines, to focus on the transportation needs of northern Canadian communities. In September 1998, Canadian North was purchased by Norterra, a wholly Northern aboriginal-owned holding company,[4] whose ownership was divided equally among the Inuvialuit Development Corporation, representing the Inuvialuit people of the western Canadian Arctic, and Nunasi Corporation, representing the Inuit people of Nunavut.

After utilizing three different livery schemes, the airline adopted its current image in 2003. Its logo displays three of the distinctive symbols of the North: the polar bear, the midnight sun and the Northern Lights. Recently, Canadian North's slogan has been changed from "Your North. Your Airline" to "seriously northern" (all in lower-case), with advertising changed to reflect different aspects of the company (serious service, serious delivery, etc.).[5]

In June 2007, Canadian North began serving the Kitikmeot communities of Gjoa Haven, Taloyoak, Kugaaruk, and Kugluktuk.[6] In April 2008, flights began to seven communities in the Qikiqtaaluk Region (Baffin Region) of Nunavut.[7]

On April 1, 2014 the Inuvialuit Development Corporation (IDC) bought the 50% share of NorTerra held by Nunasi. This purchase of NorTerra gives the IDC complete control of Canadian North, Northern Transportation Company and other companies that were jointly held.[8][9] On April 11, 2014, Norterra and the Makivik Corporation, owners of First Air announced that they were in negotiations to merge the two airlines.[10][11] According to a website set up the same day the new airline would be owned equally between the two companies and "a merger would create a stronger, more sustainable business, provide better service to customers and lead to new economic development opportunities across the North. We believe the two companies would complement each other's strengths."[12] In October 2014, it was announced the merger would not go through,[13] but Canadian North will still codeshare on some flights with First Air until 16 May 2017.[14] On February 23, 2017 the Inuvialuit Development Corporation (IDC) announced that arrangements have been concluded to transfer ownership of Canadian North directly into IDC.[15]

Destinations

A Canadian North 737-300 parked in Iqaluit, Nunavut.
Canadian North Boeing 737-200
Canadian North Boeing 737-200 in old colours at Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport in 2001
A DHC-8-100 being de-iced at Cambridge Bay Airport
Canadian North de Havilland Canada Dash 8 at Cambridge Bay Airport

As of July 2018, Canadian North had the following domestic scheduled destinations:[2]

Country Province/State City IATA ICAO Airport Notes
Canada Alberta Edmonton YEG CYEG Edmonton International Airport
Canada Northwest Territories Inuvik YEV CYEV Inuvik (Mike Zubko) Airport
Canada Northwest Territories Norman Wells YVQ CYVQ Norman Wells Airport
Canada Northwest Territories Yellowknife YZF CYZF Yellowknife Airport Hub
Canada Nunavut Cambridge Bay YCB CYCB Cambridge Bay Airport
Canada Nunavut Cape Dorset YTE CYTE Cape Dorset Airport
Canada Nunavut Gjoa Haven YHK CYHK Gjoa Haven Airport
Canada Nunavut Hall Beach YUX CYUX Hall Beach Airport
Canada Nunavut Igloolik YGT CYGT Igloolik Airport
Canada Nunavut Iqaluit YFB CYFB Iqaluit Airport Hub
Canada Nunavut Kugaaruk YBB CYBB Kugaaruk Airport
Canada Nunavut Kugluktuk YCO CYCO Kugluktuk Airport
Canada Nunavut Pangnirtung YXP CYXP Pangnirtung Airport
Canada Nunavut Pond Inlet YIO CYIO Pond Inlet Airport
Canada Nunavut Qikiqtarjuaq YVM CYVM Qikiqtarjuaq Airport
Canada Nunavut Rankin Inlet Airport YRT CYRT Rankin Inlet Airport
Canada Nunavut Taloyoak YYH CYYH Taloyoak Airport
Canada Ontario Ottawa YOW CYOW Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport

Charter operations

Fleet

Current fleet

As of August 2018, Canadian North operates the following aircraft:[1]

Canadian North fleet
Aircraft Number in fleet Orders Passengers Notes
Boeing 737, 200 series 2 — 112 Combi aircraft, carries freight in addition to passengers
Boeing 737 Classic, 300 series 10 — 136 Two Quick Change (QC) aircraft, can be converted to freight.[17]
Bombardier Dash 8 Series 100 3 — 37
Bombardier Dash 8 Series 300 1 — 50–56
Total 16 —

Retired fleet

Aircraft previously operated include:[18]

Partnerships

Canadian North has had an interline agreement with WestJet since 2012.[19] In the north Canadian has partnerships with Air Tindi, Aklak Air, Calm Air and North-Wright Airways.[20] These partnerships give them access to 14 destinations in the NWT, 6 in Nunavut and 6 in Manitoba.[21] They also partner with Air Canada to provide access to several cities in southern Canada.[20]

Corporate affairs

The company headquarters are on the grounds of Calgary International Airport in Calgary, Alberta. In addition it has regional offices in Iqaluit, Nunavut and in the Nunasi Building in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. It also has an operations office in Edmonton, Alberta,[22] on the grounds of Edmonton International Airport.[23]

Canadian North previously had its headquarters in the Northwest Tower,[24][25] in downtown Yellowknife. The airline announced that when its lease was to expire in the end of August 2013, the airline will vacate the office and move it and 20 employees out of Yellowknife. The airline kept its community and marketing support employees in Yellowknife. Most of the employees forced to move were from the accounting division. Lisa Hicks, a spokesperson, stated that there had been excess capacity at the airline's offices in Edmonton and Yellowknife.[26]

As of July 31, 2013 the operations centre has been moved to the hangar in Edmonton.

Programs and services

IFE screens inside a Canadian North 737-300.

The airline offers Aeroplan rewards points, both to collect and to redeem. Passengers may redeem Air Miles points for travel on Canadian North.[27][28]

Canadian North also has its own "Aurora Concierge" program for frequent travellers. Benefits of being an Aurora Concierge member include: Priority check-in, baggage, and boarding, extra piece of checked luggage, free alcoholic beverages, no fee changes, personalized membership card and baggage tag, and more.[29]

As of June 5, 2010, Canadian North began codeshareing flights on aircraft operated by Air Canada. Aurora Concierge members are now allowed access to Air Canada's Maple Leaf Lounges by purchasing membership through Canadian North.[30]

Canadian North in-flight service includes:

  • Comfortable leather seating
  • Advanced seat selection
  • Free newspapers and magazines
  • Free colouring books and crayons for children

In 2005 the airline started offering a Pivut Fare ("ours") to Inuvialuit and Inuit (Nunavut) land claims beneficiaries. In 2010/2011 the Pivut Fare entitled a beneficiary to 65% off three airfares.[31]

References

  1. 1 2 "Canadian Civil Aircraft Register: Quick Search Result for Canadian North". Transport Canada. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  2. 1 2 "Canadian North Route Map" (PDF). Retrieved 2018-07-16.
  3. ↑ Canadian North President to Step Down in New Year
  4. 1 2 "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 2007-04-03. p. 60.
  5. ↑ Who We Are
  6. ↑ Canadian North Launches New Service to Four Kitikmeot Communities
  7. ↑ Canadian North Launches New Service to Seven Baffin Communities
  8. ↑ Nunasi Corp. sells its stake in NorTerra, Canadian North
  9. ↑ Nunasi Corp. sells its half of Norterra to the Inuvialuit
  10. ↑ Canadian North, First Air plan 'merger of equals'
  11. ↑ Arctic airlines First Air and Canadian North talk merger
  12. ↑ Canada’s Northern Airlines Enter Merger Discussions
  13. ↑ Airlines announce First Air-Canadian North merger is dead
  14. ↑ Codeshare kaput: First Air ends flight sharing deal with Canadian North
  15. ↑
  16. ↑ Oilsands a magnet for air carrier traffic
  17. ↑ "Production List Search". www.planespotters.net. Retrieved 2018-07-15.
  18. ↑ Canadian Civil Aircraft Register: History Search Result
  19. ↑ "May 31, 2012 - Canadian North and WestJet sign Interline Agreement | Canadian North". www.canadiannorth.com. Retrieved 2018-07-16.
  20. 1 2 Partners
  21. ↑ Route map Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine. and Flight Schedule
  22. ↑ "Administration" (Archive). Canadian North. Retrieved on March 21, 2014. "Head Office - Calgary 200, 580 Palmer Road N.E. Calgary, AB T2E 7R3 Canada" and "Regional Head Office - Iqaluit P.O. Box 70 Iqaluit, NU X0A 0H0 Canada" and "Regional Office - Yellowknife 202 Nunasi Building, 5109 48th St. Yellowknife, NT X1A 1N5 Canada" and "Operations Office - Edmonton 101 – 3731 52 Avenue East Edmonton AB T9E 0V4 Canada"
  23. ↑ "pre-kearl_general_info.pdf" (Archive). Boilermakers Local 146 (Boilermakers Union). Retrieved on March 21, 2014. "3731 52 Ave E. Edmonton International Airport, AB. T9E 0V4."
  24. ↑ "Administration Archived 2014-03-21 at WebCite." Canadian North. Retrieved on January 20, 2011. "Head Office - Yellowknife 300, 5201 50 Ave. Yellowknife, NT X1A 3S9 Canada"
  25. ↑ "Directory Information." Government of the Northwest Territories. Retrieved on January 20, 2011. "NT Northwest Tower 5201 – 50 Ave"
  26. ↑ Vela, Thandiwe. "Airline moving jobs south" (Archive) Northern News Services. Retrieved on March 21, 2014.
  27. ↑ Aeroplan
  28. ↑ Air Miles
  29. ↑ Aurora Concierge
  30. ↑ Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Offer
  31. ↑ Pivut Information

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