Canadian North facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Canadian North

Check-in counters for the airline at Inuvik Airport
Founded	1989; 36 years ago (1989)
Commenced operations	1998; 27 years ago (1998) (as Canadian North)
AOC #	Canada: 107 (First Air & Canadian North) United States: N0OF050F
Hubs	Iqaluit Yellowknife
Focus cities	Cambridge Bay
Frequent-flyer program	Aeroplan Aurora Rewards
Fleet size	33
Destinations	28
Parent company	Exchange Income Corporation
Headquarters	20 Cope Drive, Kanata, Ontario
Key people	Johnny Adams (executive chairman) Shelly De Caria (president & CEO)

Canadian North is a Canadian airline that helps people travel across Canada, especially in the northern parts. Its main office is in Kanata, Ontario. The airline flies to many communities in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and the Nunavik area of Quebec. It also connects these northern places to bigger cities like Edmonton and Ottawa. Canadian North even works with Air Greenland to help passengers connect to flights there.

A Brief History of Canadian North

Canadian North started in 1989. It was created by Canadian Airlines International to serve the special needs of communities in northern Canada. The airline's history connects to older airlines like Nordair and Pacific Western Airlines, which also flew in the Canadian Arctic.

How Canadian North Grew

A Canadian North ATR 42-500 aircraft resting at Cambridge Bay Airport in July 2021.

In 1998, a company called Norterra bought Canadian North. This company was owned equally by two groups: the Inuvialuit Development Corporation, which represents the Inuvialuit people, and Nunasi Corporation, which represents the Inuit people of Nunavut.

In 2003, Canadian North changed its logo. The new logo showed three important symbols of the North: a polar bear, the midnight sun, and the Northern Lights. Their slogan became "seriously northern."

Expanding Flights in the North

The logo used by Canadian North from 2003 to 2019.

Canadian North started flying to more communities in 2007. These included places like Gjoa Haven, Taloyoak, Kugaaruk, and Kugluktuk in the Kitikmeot Region. In 2008, they added flights to seven more communities in the Qikiqtaaluk Region of Nunavut.

Changes in Ownership and Mergers

In 2014, the Inuvialuit Development Corporation (IDC) bought the other half of Norterra, taking full control of Canadian North. Soon after, IDC and Makivvik, which owned another airline called First Air, talked about merging their airlines. They believed combining the airlines would make them stronger and offer better service to the North. However, this merger did not happen at that time.

Later, in 2017, the Inuvialuit Development Corporation took direct ownership of Canadian North.

The Story of First Air

A former Canadian North Boeing 737-200 at Yellowknife Airport in 2023. This type of plane could land on gravel runways.

First Air was an older airline that started in 1946. It began as a flying school and later offered scheduled flights. Over the years, First Air bought other smaller airlines, expanding its reach in the North.

The Merger of Canadian North and First Air

On September 28, 2018, Canadian North and First Air finally agreed to merge. The new airline would be called "Canadian North" but would use First Air's plane designs. The Canadian government approved this merger in June 2019.

The merger was completed on November 1, 2019. The two airlines combined their flight schedules. By early 2021, the new combined airline started using the call sign "Arctic." As of December 2021, all operations are under the Canadian North name with a new look for their planes.

New Planes and Future Plans

The new and old designs painted on 737 plane tails.

In December 2022, Canadian North announced it would stop using its older Boeing 737-200 planes by early 2023. These planes were special because they could land on gravel runways. The airline replaced them with other planes that also have this ability. The last scheduled flight for this type of plane was on May 6, 2023.

Canadian North started a special route with Air Greenland in summer 2024. This flight goes between Nuuk and Iqaluit once a week. Canadian North helps passengers connect to this flight from places like Kuujjuaq, Montreal, and Ottawa.

On February 24, 2025, it was announced that Canadian North was sold to Exchange Income Corporation for $205 million. This sale was approved by the government.

Where Canadian North Flies

As of August 5, 2025, Canadian North flies to 28 different places within Canada.

Past Destinations

A Canadian North Boeing 737-300 flying towards Calgary International Airport.

Canadian North used to fly to these cities:

Special Charter Flights

Canadian North also offers "charter" flights. These are special flights that can go anywhere in North America without stops. They have special terminals for these flights in Calgary and Edmonton.

Airline Partnerships

Canadian North works with other airlines to make travel easier. These partners include:

• Air Canada
• Air Greenland
• WestJet

The Canadian North Fleet (Planes)

As of March 2025, Canadian North has 33 aircraft. All these planes are registered under Bradley Air Services (First Air).

Planes That Are No Longer Used

A former Canadian North De Havilland Canada Dash 8 Series 100. This plane had the old airline design. These planes were retired in 2021.

Canadian North used to fly these types of planes:

• Boeing 737-200 / 737-200C: These planes could be fitted with a special kit to land on gravel runways in Northern Canada.
• Fokker F28 Fellowship
• Fokker 100
• De Havilland Canada Dash 8

Where Canadian North's Offices Are

Northwest Tower in Yellowknife, which used to be the main office for the airline.

The main office for Canadian North is in Kanata, Ontario. This used to be the main office for First Air.

Canadian North also has regional offices in Iqaluit, Nunavut, and in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. They also have an office for their flight operations in Edmonton, Alberta, at the Edmonton International Airport.

Special Programs and Services

In-flight entertainment screens inside a Canadian North 737-300 plane.

When you fly with Canadian North, you can enjoy comfortable leather seats. You can also choose your seat ahead of time. They offer free newspapers and magazines, and free coloring books and crayons for kids.

The airline is part of the Aeroplan rewards program, where you can earn and use points for flights. You can also use Air Miles points for travel on Canadian North. The airline also has special agreements with Air North and Calm Air to share flights.

Canadian North has its own "Aurora Concierge" and "Aurora Rewards" program for people who fly often. Members get special benefits like faster check-in, priority for their luggage, and free alcoholic drinks for adults. They also get a special membership card and luggage tag.

In 2005, the airline started offering a special "Pivut Fare" (which means "ours") for people who are part of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement.

See also

In Spanish: Canadian North para niños