Air North Charter and Training Ltd., operating as 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 scheduled flights between Yellowknife and Vancouver and Edmonton as well as charter flights throughout Canada and Alaska.
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 737-400 and a winglet-equipped 737-500.
In 2017, two ATR 42, both combi aircraft, were introduced to replace existing Hawker Siddeley HS 748 aircraft, ending worldwide scheduled passenger HS-748 service. With newer aircraft in service, the three 737-200 Series 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.
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, British Columbia 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.[citation needed] Air North launched its inflight magazine in partnership with North of Ordinary Media in February 2007. Now owned by Nordwind Inc. in Whitehorse published as The Yukon Magazine, it is released quarterly and is available in-flight, by subscription, and at retailers across Canada.[citation needed]
The remainder of Air North's revenue comes from the operation of a bistro at Whitehorse Airport, ground handling services, providing ground handling for WestJet, at Whitehorse and Old Crow, as well as jet fuel (Jet-A), refuelling services at Whitehorse Airport. Air North is currently both the main fixed-base operator (FBO) and provider of Jet-A fuel service in Whitehorse.
In May 2022, Air North launched its inaugural twice-weekly flight to Toronto via Yellowknife.
Air North is now owned by Joseph Sparling (close to 51%) (President, CEO, and Boeing 737 Captain), the Vuntut Development Corporation (49%), an arm of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, and, as of 2026, more than 2,400 individual Yukoners (less than 0.1% total). Air North is one of the largest private sector employers in Yukon. As of 2015 it has over 500 employees.[citation needed]
In July and August 2026, Air North announced new, year round service between Yellowknife and Edmonton beginning in December 2026. As well, a new seasonal service between British Columbia airports at Vancouver and Kamloops beginning in May 2027 was also announced.
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, and Inuvik. It also has summer seasonal service to, 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.
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.
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 climbout, number two 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 1.2 nautical miles (2.2km; 1.4mi) west of the Bronson Creek airstrip, where all three crew were able to escape the wreckage. The first officer and loadmaster swam to shore, but the captain was never found and presumed to have drowned.
Chieftain Energy
In 2014, Air North and the Kluane Dana Shäw Limited Partnership (a Kluane First Nation entity) formed Chieftain Energy. Chieftain is a transport, fuel, heating oil, and lubricant distributor. In 2017, Chieftain acquired an Alberta-based fuel distribution company and entered the bulk fuel, transportation, home heating, and cardlock business. That way, Chieftain became an important part of the Air North group.[citation needed]
Black Wolf Bistro
In 2024, Air North opened the Black Wolf Bistro at Whitehorse International Airport (landside). It is the only eatery at that airport. Focusing on departing passengers, it offers breakfast and lunch. In 2026, the bistro added "The Cache", an airside vending machine of fresh snacks.[citation needed]
The Yukon Magazine
The Yukon Magazine (TYM), formerly The Yukon North of Ordinary, is a quarterly arts, travel, and culture magazine in Yukon. The magazine was first published in February 2007. It is also the official inflight magazine for Air North.
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