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{{Short description|Airline in Yukon, Canada}}
{{About|the Canadian airline|other uses}}
{{distinguish|Canadian North}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline = Air North
| logo = Air North logo.png
| image = ATR 42-300 C-FVGF of Air North (45383163162).jpg
| caption = An [[ATR 42|ATR 42-320]] landing at [[Dawson City Airport]]
| fleet_size = 11,<ref name="TCfleet"/> 9<ref name="ANfleet"/>
| destinations = 12<ref name="dest"/>
| IATA = 4N
| ICAO = ANT<ref name=CanICAOD>{{CanICAOD|Air North Charter|ANT|AIR NORTH|1|25 July 2023}}</ref>
| callsign = AIR NORTH<ref name=CanICAOD/>
| parent = 
| founded = 1977
| aoc = Canada 3121,<ref>{{TCAOC|25 July 2023|31-21|Air+North}}</ref> United States VTDF205F<ref name="FAA">{{Cite web|url=https://av-info.faa.gov/detail.asp?DSGN_CODE=VTDF&OPER_FAR=129&OPER_NAME=AIR+NORTH+CHARTER+AND+TRAINING+LTD|title=Federal Aviation Administration - Airline Certificate Information - Detail View|website=av-info.faa.gov|access-date=25 July 2023}}</ref>
| headquarters = [[Whitehorse]], [[Yukon]]
| key_people = {{nowrap|Joseph Sparling ([[CEO]] and President)}}
| hubs = {{nowrap|[[Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport|Whitehorse International Airport]]}}
| focus_cities = {{unbulleted list|
* [[Calgary International Airport|Calgary]]
* [[Dawson City Airport|Dawson City]]
* [[Vancouver International Airport|Vancouver]]
}}
| frequent_flyer = None
| alliance = 
| website = [https://www.flyairnorth.com/ flyairnorth.com]|
}}

'''Air North Charter and Training Ltd.''', operating as {{em|Air North, Yukon's Airline}}, 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 charter flights throughout Canada and Alaska. The airline further provides ground handling services and fuel services to other airlines throughout Yukon, and it provides ground handling services at [[Calgary International Airport]], [[Vancouver International Airport]] and [[Edmonton International Airport]]. Its main base is [[Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport]].<ref name="FI">{{cite web|url=https://www.airlineshq.com/airlines/canada/air_north/index.htm |title= Air North| publisher=AirlinesHQ.com|access-date= 25 July 2023}}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:C-GZOF C-47 Air North YVR 19JUL95 (5550495643).jpg|thumb|left|A [[Douglas DC-3]] in Air North livery. The airline acquired several DC-3s throughout the 1980s.]]

The airline was established by Joe Sparling and Tom Woods, and started flight training and general purpose charter operations in 1977 with a single [[Cessna 206]].{{citation needed|date=June 2024}} Throughout the 1980s, the company grew and acquired several aircraft including [[Douglas DC-3]]s, a [[Douglas DC-4]], and a variety of [[Cessna]]s, [[de Havilland Canada|de Havilland]]s and other aircraft. Air North also began{{when|date=June 2024}} offering scheduled passenger and cargo service in addition to charter services.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

During the 1990s, its piston-powered fleet were replaced with more modern and reliable [[turboprop]] aircraft, and by 2000 the fleet consisted of one [[Beechcraft Model 99]] and three [[Hawker Siddeley HS 748|Hawker Siddeley 748 Series 2A]]s.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

The [[Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation]] of [[Old Crow, Yukon|Old Crow]] also began investing in Air North during this time. This investment enabled Air North to acquire two [[Boeing 737|Boeing 737-200]] jets in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History {{!}} Air North |url=https://www.flyairnorth.com/about/history-air-north |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=www.flyairnorth.com}}</ref> These jets allowed Air North to begin competing with the mainline carriers between Yukon and [[Vancouver]], [[Calgary]] and [[Edmonton]]. These routes proved to be successful and have since been joined by [[Kelowna]], [[Yellowknife]], [[Ottawa]], [[Toronto]], and [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]].{{citation needed|date=June 2024}} Since Air North began scheduled jet service, passenger traffic at the [[Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport]] has doubled, and by 2014 nearly 60% of Whitehorse passengers were flying Air North.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}

The Beech 99 was sold in 2005, a fourth Hawker Siddeley 748 was acquired in 2006, and in 2008 a Boeing 737-200 [[Combi aircraft|Combi]] was acquired.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}} The combi's large main deck cargo door and moveable bulkhead allowed for all-cargo as well as mixed cargo/passenger operations. A gravel kit was later installed on the 737 Combi, allowing the aircraft to operate on the airline's northern routes.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

[[File:C-GANH B737-505W Air North YVR 07JUL12 (7523083328).jpg|thumb|An Air North [[Boeing 737-500]] in July 2012. The airline acquired several 737s in the 2010s.]]

In 2010, the airline started a new fleet expansion and modernization plan, purchasing a [[Boeing 737 Classic|737-400]] and a [[Wingtip device|winglet]]-equipped 737-500.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-05-14 |title=Air North buys jet, sells toques |url=https://www.yukon-news.com/business/air-north-buys-jet-sells-toques-6967736 |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=Yukon News |language=en}}</ref> In 2012, a fifth HS-748 (a pure freighter equipped with the large freight door) and a second 737-500 were acquired. This was followed by a third 737-500 in 2014, sporting an updated livery, and a fourth 737-500 entered service in 2016.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.flyairnorth.com/Experience/Corporate.aspx |title=Air North Experience {{!}} Corporate Information |access-date=20 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071228224631/http://www.flyairnorth.com/Experience/Corporate.aspx |archive-date=28 December 2007}}</ref>

During the [[2021 Canadian federal election]], [[New Democratic Party of Canada|NDP]] leader [[Jagmeet Singh]]'s campaign chartered an Air North Boeing 737-500.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 August 2021 |title=Here's what we know about the planes on Canada's federal election trail |url=https://skiesmag.com/news/planes-canada-federal-election-trail/ |access-date=25 July 2023}}</ref>

In 2024, the company's fleet was further updated with the introduction of [[Boeing 737 Next Generation|two 737-800 aircraft]]. Both are equipped with winglets, improved performance and updated, Boeing Sky-style interiors.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-25 |title=Air North adds 2 bigger, modern, refurbished B737-800 planes to fleet |url=https://www.yukon-news.com/news/air-north-adds-2-bigger-modern-refurbished-b737-800-planes-to-fleet-7454147 |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=Yukon News |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:C-FNYA@YVR 06Oct24.jpg|thumb|One of two [[Boeing 737 Next Generation|Boeing 737-800s]] acquired in 2024.]]
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 fuelling 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.

In conjunction with North of Ordinary Media, Air North launched its [[inflight magazine]], ''[[#Yukon, North of Ordinary|Yukon, North of Ordinary]]''<ref name=YNOO>{{cite web|url=https://northofordinary.com/publications/ |title=Publications: Yukon, North of Ordinary|access-date=25 July 2023}}</ref> in February 2007. The magazine is published quarterly and is available in-flight, via subscription, and in bookstores across Canada. The magazine is owned and operated by North of Ordinary Media.

[[File:Air North YYJ Inagural Flight.jpg|thumb|left|An Air North flight receives a water-cannon salute after completing the airline's first scheduled flight to [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]] from [[Whitehorse, Yukon|Whitehorse]], May 2018.]]

The remainder of Air North's revenue comes from ground handling services at Whitehorse, Dawson City, Old Crow, Edmonton, and Vancouver Airports, as well as Jet-A refuelling services at Whitehorse. Air North is currently the main provider of Jet-A fuel service in Whitehorse. It is also the ground handler for Condor Airlines and [[WestJet]] in Whitehorse, as well as several airlines in Vancouver.

In May 2022, Air North launched its inaugural twice-weekly flight to Toronto via Yellowknife.<ref name="flyairnorth1">{{cite web |title=Announcing Service to Toronto, Ontario |url=https://www.flyairnorth.com/air-north/news/hello-toronto |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128072135/https://www.flyairnorth.com/air-north/news/hello-toronto |archive-date=November 28, 2021 |access-date=28 November 2021 |publisher=Air North}}</ref>

Air North is now owned by Joseph Sparling (51%) (President, CEO, and Boeing 737 Captain) and the Vuntut Development Corporation (49%), an arm of the [[Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation]]. Air North is one of the largest private sector employers in Yukon. As of 2015 it has over 500 employees and more than 1,200 Class C & D shareholders.

==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, [[Mayo, Yukon|Mayo]] and [[Inuvik]]. It also has summer seasonal service to Yellowknife, 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Charters {{!}} Fly Air North |url=https://www.flyairnorth.com/charters/charters |access-date=25 July 2023 |website=www.flyairnorth.com}}</ref> 

=== Scheduled flights ===
[[File:C-FANB@YXY 28Jan23.jpg|thumb|Air North Boeing 737-400 at [[Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport|Whitehorse International Airport]].]]
As of October 2023, Air North provides scheduled service to the following destinations.<ref name="dest">{{cite web|url=https://www.flyairnorth.com/destinations |title=Air North Destinations|access-date=4 October 2023}}</ref>
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Country
! Province/territory
! City
! Airport
!class="unsortable"| Notes
|-
| rowspan="12" | Canada
| rowspan="2" | [[Alberta]]
| [[Calgary]]
| [[Calgary International Airport]]
|
|-
| [[Edmonton]]
| [[Edmonton International Airport]]
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[British Columbia]]
| [[Kelowna]]
| [[Kelowna International Airport]]
| 
|-
| [[Vancouver]]
| [[Vancouver International Airport]]
| 
|-
| [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]]
| [[Victoria International Airport]]
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Northwest Territories]]
| [[Inuvik]] 
| [[Inuvik (Mike Zubko) Airport]]
|
|-
| [[Yellowknife]]
| [[Yellowknife Airport]]
| {{Airline seasonal}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Ontario]]
| [[Ottawa]]
| [[Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport]]
| {{Airline seasonal}}
|-
| [[Toronto]]
| [[Toronto Pearson International Airport]]
| {{Airline seasonal}} 
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Yukon]]
| [[Dawson City]] 
| [[Dawson City Airport]]
| 
|-
| [[Old Crow, Yukon|Old Crow]]
| [[Old Crow Airport]]
|
|-
| [[Whitehorse, Yukon|Whitehorse]]
| [[Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport]]
| {{Airline hub}}
|}

=== Interline agreements ===
Air North currently has [[Interline agreement]]s with the following airlines:
* [[China Airlines]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kostaras |first1=Maria |title=Air North, Yukon’s Airline and China Airlines announce new interline agreement, improving passenger connectivity to the Yukon |url=https://www.flyairnorth.com/air-north/news/air-north-yukons-airline-and-china-airlines-announce-new-interline-agreement |publisher=Air North |location=[[Taipei]] |access-date=6 September 2025}}</ref>
* [[Condor (airline)|Condor]]<ref name="Condor enters into a marketing collaboration with Air North">{{cite web |url=http://www.condor.com/us/fileadmin/dam/pdf/tcf-eu/06_The_Company/02_Press/2011-06-07_Condor_Air_North.pdf |title=Condor enters into a marketing collaboration with Air North |date= 7 June 2011 |website=condor.com}}</ref>
* Hahn Air <ref>{{cite web | title=Partner Carriers &#124; Hahnair | url=https://www.hahnair.com/en/partner-carriers }}</ref>
* [[Philippine Airlines]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Air North, Yukon's Airline and Philippine Airlines work to finalize interline agreement |date=18 March 2022 |url=https://yukon.ca/en/news/air-north-yukons-airline-and-philippine-airlines-work-finalize-interline-agreement |publisher=Yukon Government |access-date=27 April 2025}}</ref>
* [[WestJet]]<ref>{{cite web | title=WestJet and Air North Announce Interline Agreement | url=https://www.aviacionline.com/westjet-and-air-north-announce-interline-agreement }}</ref>

In addition, Air North has a baggage transfer agreement with [[Alaska Airlines]] and a domestic baggage transfer agreement with [[Air Canada]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Baggage Transfer |url=https://www.flyairnorth.com/flights/baggage-carry |website=Air North |access-date=6 September 2025}}</ref>

== Fleet ==
=== Current fleet ===
{{As of|2025|07}}, the Air North fleet have eleven aircraft listed on their website and eleven registered with [[Transport Canada]].<ref name="TCfleet">{{TCregister|AIR+NORTH|Air North|31 July 2025}}</ref><ref name="ANfleet">{{cite web|url=https://www.flyairnorth.com/business-travel/our-fleet |title=Our Fleet|website=Air North|access-date=31 July 2025}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; border-collapse:collapse"
|+ Air North fleet
|-
!Aircraft
![[Transport Canada|TC]] list
!ANT list
!Variants
!Passengers
!Notes
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[ATR 42]]
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 4
|[[ATR 42#ATR 42-320|ATR 42-320]]
| rowspan="2" align="center" |42 / cargo
| rowspan="2" |Air North lists all four aircraft as ATR 42-320 with one a dedicated cargo aircraft.
|-
| align=center|2
| align=center| -
| [[ATR 42#ATR 42-300|ATR 42-300]]
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Boeing 737 Classic]]
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 1
| [[Boeing 737 Classic#737-400|737-400]]
| align=center|156
| align=center| -
|-
| align=center| 4
| align=center| 4
| [[Boeing 737 Classic#737-500|737-500]]
| align=center| 122
|
|-
| [[Boeing 737 Next Generation]]
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 2
| [[Boeing 737 Next Generation#737-800|737-800]]
| align=center|174
|
|-
! align=center| Total
! align=center| 11
! align=center| 11
! colspan=3 |
|}

=== Historic fleet ===

[[File:C-GANV Air North Yukon's Airline 1984 Boeing 737-2X6C-Adv (cn 23122-1036) (11719951355).jpg|thumb|Former Air North Boeing 737-200 at [[McCarran International Airport]] on charter operations]]Aircraft previously operated include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/2/CCARCS-RIACC/RchHsRes.aspx?st=2&m=%7C%7C&cn=%7C%7C&mn=%7C%7C&sn=%7C%7C&cnn=%7CAIR%20NORTH%7C&tn=%7C%7C&ln=%7C%7C&fn=%7C%7C&rfr2=RchHs.aspx&print=y |title=Canadian Civil Aircraft Register: History Search Result for Air North|access-date=25 July 2023|date=28 April 2020}}</ref>

*[[Beechcraft Model 18]]
*[[Beechcraft Model 99]]
*[[Beechcraft Queen Air]]
*[[Boeing 737|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 HS 748|Hawker Siddeley 748]]
*[[Piper PA-31 Navajo]]

===Livery===
[[File:AirNorth737-500TailAndWinglets.jpg|thumb|Tails on Air North airplanes are painted orange with a "Yukon" wordmark. The design is also used on the plane's [[winglets]] (if present).]]

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.

==''Yukon, North of Ordinary''==
''Yukon, North of Ordinary'' (YNoO) is a quarterly arts, travel, and culture magazine in [[Yukon]], Canada. The magazine was first published in February 2007.<ref>{{cite web|title=Yukon, North of Ordinary|url=https://beakingoff.wordpress.com/2013/03/10/yukon-north-of-ordinary/ |publisher=Beakingoff|access-date=2 August 2015|date=10 March 2013}}</ref> It is also the official [[inflight magazine]] for Air North.<ref name=YNOO/>

==Accidents and incidents==
*On 20 September 1987, [[Piper PA-31 Navajo]] C-GPAC crashed on a flight from Whitehorse to [[Juneau, Alaska|Juneau]], Alaska, killing all five on board. The plane crashed into a [[glacier]] at {{Cvt|4500|ft}}.<ref>{{ASN accident|id=36864 |title=C-GPAC|access-date=9 May 2013|wikibase=yes}}</ref>
*On 19 August 1995, [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain|Douglas C-47B]] C-GZOF crashed on approach to [[Vancouver International Airport]], [[Richmond, British Columbia|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.<ref>{{ASN accident|id=19950819-1|title=C-GZOF|access-date = 9 May 2012}}</ref>
*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 [[Climb (aeronautics)|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 {{Convert|1.2|NM|lk=in}} 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.<ref>{{ASN accident|id=19960814-1|title=C-FGNI|access-date = 9 May 2012}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Official website|https://www.flyairnorth.com/}}

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[[Category:Air Transport Association of Canada]]
[[Category:Airlines established in 1977]]
[[Category:Regional airlines of the Northwest Territories]]
[[Category:Regional airlines of Yukon]]
[[Category:Companies based in Whitehorse]]
[[Category:1977 establishments in Yukon]]