Air Inuit (Inuktitut syllabics: ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᖃᖓᑦᑕᔪᖏᑦ) is an airline based in the Montreal borough of Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada.[7] It operates domestic passenger services and charter and cargo services in Nunavik, Labrador and Nunavut. Its main base is Kuujjuaq Airport.[8]
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![]() Air Inuit headquarters at the Montreal-Trudeau Airport | |||||||
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Founded | November 1978; 44 years ago (1978-11) | ||||||
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AOC # | Canada 2955,[3] United States ILLF043F[4] | ||||||
Operating bases | |||||||
Frequent-flyer program | Isaruuk Reward Program | ||||||
Fleet size | 31[5] | ||||||
Destinations | 21[6] | ||||||
Parent company | Makivik Corporation | ||||||
Headquarters | Saint-Laurent, Quebec | ||||||
Key people | Christian Busch (President, Air Inuit) | ||||||
Website | www |
The airline was established and started operations in 1978 using a de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver aircraft. The airline is collectively owned by the Inuit of Nunavik through the Makivik Corporation.[9]
In 1984 acquired Chaparal Charters and its fleet of two Twin Otters and one Douglas DC-3.[10]
In 2012, Air Inuit relocated their headquarters to a new multi-purpose facility on Côte-Vertu Boulevard near the Montréal–Trudeau International Airport.[7][9]
In 2016, Air Inuit pilot Melissa Haney became the first female Inuk pilot to reach the rank of captain. She was featured on a commemorative postage stamp released by the Canadian Ninety-Nines.[11]
Air Inuit operates scheduled services to the following domestic destinations (October 2022):[6]
Province | Community/City | IATA | ICAO | Airport | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Newfoundland and Labrador | Wabush | YWK | CYWK | Wabush Airport | |
Nunavut | Sanikiluaq | YSK | CYSK | Sanikiluaq Airport | |
Quebec | Akulivik | AKV | CYKO | Akulivik Airport | |
Aupaluk | YPJ | CYLA | Aupaluk Airport | ||
Inukjuak | YPH | CYPH | Inukjuak Airport | ||
Ivujivik | YIK | CYIK | Ivujivik Airport | ||
Kangiqsualujjuaq | XGR | CYLU | Kangiqsualujjuaq (Georges River) Airport | ||
Kangiqsujuaq | YWB | CYKG | Kangiqsujuaq (Wakeham Bay) Airport | ||
Kangirsuk | YKG | CYAS | Kangirsuk Airport | ||
Kuujjuaq | YVP | CYVP | Kuujjuaq Airport | Hub | |
Kuujjuarapik | YGW | CYGW | Kuujjuarapik Airport | ||
Montreal | YUL | CYUL | Montréal–Trudeau International Airport | Hub | |
Puvirnituq | YPX | CYPX | Puvirnituq Airport | Hub | |
Quaqtaq | YQC | CYHA | Quaqtaq Airport | ||
Quebec City | YQB | CYQB | Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport | ||
Radisson (La Grande) | YGL | CYGL | La Grande Rivière Airport | ||
Salluit | YZG | CYZG | Salluit Airport | ||
Schefferville | YKL | CYKL | Schefferville Airport | ||
Sept-Îles | YZV | CYZV | Sept-Îles Airport | ||
Tasiujaq | YTQ | CYTQ | Tasiujaq Airport | ||
Umiujaq | YUD | CYMU | Umiujaq Airport |
Air Inuit also offers other charter services to anywhere in North America.[12]
As of October 2022, the Air Inuit fleet includes the following aircraft:[5]
Aircraft | Number[5] | Variants | Notes[13] |
---|---|---|---|
Beechcraft Super King Air | 3 | 300 Series | Listed as 350 at Air Inuit, 11 passengers |
Boeing 737 | 5 | 200 Series | Combi aircraft, able to operate from gravel airstrips, 112 passengers |
Boeing 737 Classic | 1 | 300 Series | Up to 130 passengers |
de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter | 7 | 300 Series | 3,200 lb (1,500 kg) cargo, 19 passengers |
De Havilland Canada Dash 8 | 15 | 100 Series, 300 Series | Two 100 Series combi aircraft, 37 seat maximum, 7,800 lb (3,500 kg) cargo; eleven 300 Series combi and cargo aircraft, 45 seat maximum, 13,500 lb (6,100 kg) |
Total | 31 |
Air Inuit also has access to a Eurocopter Écureuil (Aerospatiale ASTAR 350) through Nunavik Rotors and a de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter through Johnny May's Air Charters.[13]
On 1 March 2016, Bombardier Inc. announced that Air Inuit would be the launch customer for the Bombardier Q300 Large Cargo Door freighter.[14]
6005, boul. de la Côte-Vertu Montréal (Québec) H4S 0B1