Wasaya Airways

Wasaya Airways
Wasaya Airways Hawker Siddeley HS 748
IATA ICAO Call sign
WP WSG WASAYA
Founded1989
AOC #11802
HubsPickle Lake Airport
Red Lake Airport
Sioux Lookout Airport
Thunder Bay Airport
Fleet size14
Destinations24
Parent companyWasaya Group Inc.
HeadquartersThunder Bay, Ontario
Key peoplePaul Disley (President and CEO)
Websitewww.wasaya.com

Wasaya Airways LP (or in Oji-Cree ᐙᐦᓭᔮ ᐱᒥᐦᓭᐎᐣ (Waaseyaa Bimisewin); unpointed: ᐗᓭᔭ ᐱᒥᓭᐎᐣ) is a First Nations-owned domestic airline with its headquarters in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. Its main hubs are the Thunder Bay Airport and the Sioux Lookout Airport; It also offers a charter and cargo service from a base in Red Lake Airport and Pickle Lake Airport. In 2003, Wasaya Airways bought the rights to serve remote First Nations communities from Bearskin Airlines. The airline also supplies food, clothing, hardware and other various supplies to 25 remote communities in Ontario.

History

Two Beechcraft 1900Ds of Wasaya Airways at Sioux Lookout Airport

Established in 1989 as Kelner Airways, it was renamed Wasaya in 1993. The new name comes from the Oji-Cree language, which means "it is bright" in English, in reference to the brightness of the rising Sun.

Over the years, the airline has grown from a floatplane operation to a charter and scheduled passenger service airline.

Its inflight magazine Sagatay is published in conjunction with Wawatay Native Communications Society.

In October 2010, the company purchased a De Havilland Canada Dash 8 to bolster its fleet.

Destinations

Scheduled services

As of 8 August 2026 Wasaya Airways serves the following destinations:

Province/territory City Airport Notes
Ontario
Bearskin Lake First NationBearskin Lake AirportOwner community
Deer Lake First NationDeer Lake Airport
Eabametoong First NationFort Hope Airport
Fort Severn First NationFort Severn AirportOwner community
Kasabonika Lake First NationKasabonika AirportOwner community
Keewaywin First NationKeewaywin AirportOwner community
Kingfisher First NationKingfisher Lake AirportOwner community
Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation
(Big Trout Lake)		Big Trout Lake AirportOwner community
Muskrat Dam Lake First NationMuskrat Dam AirportOwner community
Neskantaga First NationLansdowne House Airport
Nibinamik First Nation
(Summer Beaver)		Summer Beaver AirportOwner community
North Caribou Lake First Nation
(Weagamow or Round Lake)		Round Lake (Weagamow Lake) Airport
North Spirit Lake First NationNorth Spirit Lake Airport
Pickle LakePickle Lake AirportHub
Pikangikum First NationPikangikum AirportOwner community
Poplar Hill First NationPoplar Hill Airport
Red LakeRed Lake AirportHub
Sachigo Lake First NationSachigo Lake Airport
Sandy Lake First NationSandy Lake AirportOwner community
Sioux LookoutSioux Lookout AirportHub
Thunder BayThunder Bay AirportHub
Wapekeka First NationAngling Lake/Wapekeka AirportOwner community
Webequie First NationWebequie Airport
Wunnumin Lake First NationWunnumin Lake Airport Owner community

Fleet

As of August 2026, Wasaya Airways had four different aircraft types listed on their website (however individual aircraft numbers are not listed) and fourteen registered with Transport Canada.

Pilatus PC-12 of Wasaya Airways at Pickle Lake Airport
Wasaya Airways fleet
AircraftNo. of aircraft
TC		VariantsNotes
ATR 421ATR 42-320Freight only up to 4,800 kg (10,500 lb). Not listed at Wasaya website.
ATR 722ATR 72-212Freight only up to 7,300 kg (16,000 lb) or fuel up to 9,200 L (2,000 imp gal; 2,400 US gal)
Beechcraft 190061900DSeats up to 18, used for scheduled and charter service
De Havilland Canada Dash 82DHC-8-102
DHC-8-314		Seats up to 37 (DHC-8-102) or 44 (DHC-8-314) for scheduled and charter service and an 3,600 kg (8,000 lb) payload
Pilatus PC-123PC-12/45Seats up to 9, used for scheduled, charters and freight services
Total 14
Cessna 208B C-FKAD in Red Lake

Accidents and incidents

References

  1. 1 2 "ICAO Designators for Canadian Aircraft Operating Agencies, Aeronautical Authorities and Services" (PDF). Nav Canada. 20 May 2025. p. 8. Retrieved 27 February 2023. Wasaya Airways: WSG, WASAYA
  2. ↑ Transport Canada (27 August 2019), Civil Aviation Services (CAS) AOC. wwwapps.tc.gc.ca.
  3. 1 2 "Base Locations". Retrieved 8 August 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Canadian Civil Aircraft Register: Quick Search Result for Wasaya Airways". Transport Canada. Retrieved 8 August 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 "Discover Wasaya's Fleet". Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  6. 1 2 "Destinations". Retrieved 8 August 2026.
  7. ↑ Executive Biographies
  8. ↑ About
  9. ↑ Contact
  10. ↑ "Kelner Airways". Airline History. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  11. ↑ "CADORS report for Wasaya Airways (WSG125)". Transport Canada.
  12. ↑ "Aviation Investigation Report A03H0002". Transportation Safety Board of Canada. 24 April 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  13. ↑ "CADORS report for Wasaya Airways (FTTW)". Transport Canada.
  14. ↑ "CADORS report for Wasaya Airways (WSG127)". Transport Canada.
  15. ↑ "Aviation Safety Network, Wasaya Flight 127".