Air Inuit facts for kids
Air Inuit headquarters at the Montreal-Trudeau Airport
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| Founded | November 1978 |
|---|---|
| AOC # | Canada 2955, United States ILLF043F |
| Operating bases |
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| Frequent-flyer program | Isaruuk Reward Program |
| Fleet size | 34 |
| Destinations | 21 |
| Parent company | Makivik Corporation |
| Headquarters | Saint-Laurent, Quebec |
| Key people | Christian Busch (President, Air Inuit) |
Air Inuit (ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᖃᖓᑦᑕᔪᖏᑦ) is an airline based in Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada. It helps people travel and sends cargo (like packages and supplies) to different places.
The airline mainly serves areas in Nunavik (northern Quebec), southern Quebec, and Nunavut. Its main base is at Kuujjuaq Airport. Air Inuit is special because it is owned by the Inuit people of Nunavik through the Makivik Corporation.
Contents
History of Air Inuit
Air Inuit started flying in 1978. Its very first aircraft was a de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver.
In 1984, Air Inuit grew by buying another company called Chaparal Charters. This added two Twin Otters and one Douglas DC-3 plane to their fleet.
In 2012, Air Inuit moved its main office to a new building. This new headquarters is located near the Montréal–Trudeau International Airport.
A big moment happened in 2016. Air Inuit pilot Melissa Haney became the first female Inuk pilot to become a captain. She was even featured on a special postage stamp in Canada!
In 2023, Air Inuit announced a change to its fleet. They decided to retire their older Boeing 737-200 Combi planes. These will be replaced with three newer Boeing 737-800 Combi aircraft.
Where Does Air Inuit Fly?
Air Inuit offers regular flights to many places in Canada. As of July 2023, here are some of the destinations they serve:
Scheduled Flights
Air Inuit has regular flights to communities in Nunavut and Quebec.
| Province | Community/City | Airport | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nunavut | Sanikiluaq | Sanikiluaq Airport | |
| Quebec | Akulivik | Akulivik Airport | |
| Aupaluk | Aupaluk Airport | ||
| Inukjuak | Inukjuak Airport | ||
| Ivujivik | Ivujivik Airport | ||
| Kangiqsualujjuaq | Kangiqsualujjuaq (Georges River) Airport | ||
| Kangiqsujuaq | Kangiqsujuaq (Wakeham Bay) Airport | ||
| Kangirsuk | Kangirsuk Airport | ||
| Kuujjuaq | Kuujjuaq Airport | Hub | |
| Kuujjuarapik | Kuujjuarapik Airport | ||
| Montreal | Montréal–Trudeau International Airport | Hub | |
| Puvirnituq | Puvirnituq Airport | Hub | |
| Quaqtaq | Quaqtaq Airport | ||
| Quebec City | Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport | ||
| Radisson (La Grande) | La Grande Rivière Airport | ||
| Salluit | Salluit Airport | ||
| Schefferville | Schefferville Airport | ||
| Sept-Îles | Sept-Îles Airport | ||
| Tasiujaq | Tasiujaq Airport | ||
| Umiujaq | Umiujaq Airport |
Charter Flights
Besides regular flights, Air Inuit also offers special charter services. This means you can hire a plane to fly almost anywhere in North America.
Air Inuit's Aircraft Fleet
As of March 2024, Air Inuit has a fleet of 34 aircraft. Here are the types of planes they use:
Current Aircraft
| Aircraft | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Beechcraft Super King Air | 3 | These planes can carry 11 passengers. |
| Boeing 737 | 5 | These are "Combi" planes, meaning they can carry both passengers and cargo. They can even land on gravel runways! They will soon be replaced by newer Boeing 737-800s. |
| Boeing 737 Classic | 1 | This plane can carry up to 130 passengers. |
| Boeing 737 Next Generation | 3 | These are the newer 800 Series planes. |
| de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter | 7 | These smaller planes can carry 19 passengers or a lot of cargo (about 3,200 pounds). |
| De Havilland Canada Dash 8 | 15 | Air Inuit has two types: Series 100 (3 planes) and Series 300 (12 planes). Some are "Combi" planes. The Series 100 can carry up to 37 passengers and about 7,800 pounds of cargo. The Series 300 can carry up to 45 passengers and about 13,500 pounds of cargo. |
| Total | 34 |
Air Inuit can also use other aircraft when needed. They have access to a Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil helicopter through Nunavik Rotors. They can also use a de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter plane through Johnny May's Air Charters.
In 2016, Bombardier Inc. announced that Air Inuit would be the first airline to use their new Bombardier Q300 Large Cargo Door freighter, which is designed to carry big items.
Former Aircraft
Over the years, Air Inuit has also flown these types of planes:
- Beechcraft King Air
- Cessna 185 Skywagon
- Cessna 421
- Convair Liner 340 (580)
- Convair 440 (580)
- Grumman Gulfstream I (G-159)
- Hawker Siddeley HS 748
Incidents
On March 16, 1981, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain plane (C-FIRW) was damaged. It broke through the frozen surface of Lake Bienville while getting ready to take off for a cargo flight. The plane could not be repaired after this incident.
See also
In Spanish: Air Inuit para niños
