Canadian Airline Series: First Air

In today’s post, I will introduce another small Canadian Airline called First Air, The Airline of the North. First Air is an airline headquartered in Kanata, a suburb in Ottawa, Ontario. It operates services to 34 communities in Nunavut, Nunavik and Northwest Terrorities. Its major hubs is Yellowknife Airport, Iqaluit Airport, and Rankin Inlet Airport.

First Air (2)

First Air is the mergence of Ptarmigan Airways and Northwest Territorial Airways, which combines two airlines serving communities in the Canadian North. First Air is the oldest airline in Canada operating under its original name and currently flies to various destinations in the country:

First Air Route Map

Airport

Destinations

Iqaluit (Iqaluit Airport)
  • Kimmirut (Kimmirut Airport)
  • Kuujjuaq (Kuujjuaq Airport)
  • Arctic Bay (Arctic Bay Airport)
  • Igloolik (Igloolik Airport)
  • Hall Beach (Hall Beach Airport)
  • Cape Dorset (Cape Dorset Airport)
Hall Beach (Hall Beach Airport)
  • Igloolik (Igloolik Airport)
  • Iqaluit (Iqaluit Airport)
Kuujjuaq (Kuujjuaq Airport)
  • Iqaluit (Iqaluit Airport)
  • Montreal (Montreal-Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport)
Cape Dorset (Cape Dorset Airport)
  • Iqaluit (Iqaluit Airport)
  • Coral Harbour (Coral Harbour Airport)
Yellowknife (Yellowknife Airport)
  • Hay River (Hay River Airport)
  • Fort Simpson (Fort Simpson Airport)
  • Gjoa Haven (Gjoa Haven Airport)
Gjoa Haven (Gjoa Haven Airport)
  • Taloyoak (Taloyoak Airport)
  • Kugaaruk (Kugaaruk Airport)
  • Cambridge Bay (Cambridge Bay Airport)
  • Yellowknife (Yellowknife Airport)
Taloyoak (Taloyoak Airport)
  • Kugaaruk (Kugaaruk Airport)
  • Cambridge Bay (Cambridge Bay Airport)
  • Gjoa Haven (Gjoa Haven Airport)
Montreal (Montreal-Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport)
  • Kuujjuaq (Kuujjuaq Airport)
Kugluktuk (Kugluktuk Airport)
  • Ulukhaktok (Ulukhaktok Airport)

First Air (3)

First Air currently offers two types of flights:

Jet Flights
  • Baggage Allowance: two free pieces of checked baggage
  • Maximum Checked Baggage Weight: 70 lbs per piece
  • Excess baggage Fee: $114.98 per additional piece
  • Overweight Baggage Fee: $172.46 plus tax
  • Carry-on Baggage: max weight 20 lbs
Turboprop Flights
  • Baggage Allowance: two free pieces of checked baggage
  • Maximum Checked Baggage Weight: 40 lbs per piece
  • Excess baggage Fee: $114.98 per additional piece
  • Overweight Baggage Fee: $172.46 plus tax
  • Carry-on Baggage: max weight 20 lbs

First Air is a participating carrier in Aeroplan. This allows each traveller to earn a minimum of 125 Aeroplan miles on your First Air flights. You can also redeem Aeroplan miles for complimentary flights with First Air.

First Air is also partners with VIA Rail, so you can use First Air’s Travel Partner program to help you book all your travel in one spot. Additionally, they also share a codeshare with Calm Air and Canadian North in order to improve flight schedules and connections. This will also allow First Air to offer same-day connections to less populated communities and improve their operations to better serve customer needs.

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