Connecting Northern and Arctic communities across Canada.
Founded
1989
Headquarters
Ottawa, Canada
Canadian North is a Canadian regional airline specializing in scheduled passenger and cargo services to remote, northern, and Arctic communities. The airline serves numerous communities across Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, and northern Alberta that are otherwise difficult to access, playing a vital role in linking isolated populations to larger urban centers.
The airline was formed through the merger of Canadian North and First Air, two long-established northern carriers, which officially completed their operational integration in 2021. This consolidation created a stronger, unified northern airline better equipped to serve the unique logistical and transportation challenges of Canada's Arctic and subarctic regions.
Beyond passenger service, Canadian North operates significant cargo and charter operations, supporting resource industries, government operations, and Indigenous communities throughout the North. The airline is majority-owned by a consortium of Inuit organizations, reflecting its deep ties to the communities it serves.
Hubs & network
Canadian North operates primarily through hubs at Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport, Calgary International Airport, and Yellowknife Airport, with extensive service points throughout Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.
Fleet
Canadian North operates a fleet primarily consisting of Boeing 737 series aircraft, along with ATR 42 and ATR 72 turboprop aircraft for service to shorter runways in remote communities.
Notable facts
- ›Formed from the merger of Canadian North and First Air, completing full operational integration in 2021.
- ›Majority owned by Inuit organizations, including Makivik Corporation and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami-affiliated groups.
- ›Serves some of the most remote and isolated communities in the Canadian Arctic, including many with gravel runways.
- ›Operates critical cargo lifts supporting communities that have no road access.
- ›Uses the ICAO callsign EMPRESS, inherited partly from its predecessor operations.
This profile is provided for general information only. Contact details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airline's official website before acting on them.
