Northwestern Air

This article is about a Canadian airline. For the United States airline, see Northwest Airlines. For the Chinese airline, see China Northwest Airlines.
Northwestern Air Lease
A British Aerospace Jetstream at Edmonton International Airport
IATA ICAO Call sign
J3 PLR[1] POLARIS[1]
Founded1965
AOC #271[2]
Fleet size14[3][4]
Destinations6[5]
HeadquartersFort Smith, Northwest Territories
Key peopleTerry Harrold
(President)
Brian Harrold
(Vice-President)
Debbie Payne
(Director of Finance)
Websitehttps://www.nwal.ca/

Northwestern Air is an airline based in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, Canada. It operates scheduled passenger services to seven destinations in two territories/provinces,[5] as well as undertaking ad hoc charters and long-term charter contracts for various corporations throughout Canada and the United States.

Its main base is Fort Smith Airport.

History

The airline was established in 1965 as a leasing company and started flying operations in 1968. It expanded to operate scheduled passenger services in 1984. It is wholly owned by the Harrold family and had more than 70 employees in September 2018.[6]

On 18 December 2024 the airline announced it would be terminating scheduled operations on 16 January 2025 to concentrate on contract charters using its Cessna fleet. Air Tindi would be taking over the scheduled routes. The airline cited the ages of Terry and Brian Harold, as well as challenges with pilot recruitment as the reasons for the decision.[7]

Destinations

As of January 2024, the airline serves the following locations:[5]

Province/territory City Airport Notes
Alberta Edmonton Edmonton International Airport
Fort Chipewyan Fort Chipewyan Airport
Fort McMurray Fort McMurray International Airport
High Level High Level Airport
Northwest Territories Fort Smith Fort Smith Airport Hub
Hay River Hay River/Merlyn Carter Airport
Yellowknife Yellowknife Airport

Fleet

As of January 2024, the Northwestern Air fleet includes fourteen aircraft registered with Transport Canada and ten listed at the Northwestern Air web site:[3][4]

Northwestern Air fleet
Aircraft In service
(TC) 		In service
(PLR) 		Variants Notes
British Aerospace Jetstream 8 10 3100, 3200 Transport Canada lists three 3100 and five 3200. Northwestern lists five of each.
Cessna 172 1 0 172N
Cessna 185 Skywagon 1 1 A185F
Cessna 206 2 2 U206 One each U206E and U206G
Cessna 210 Centurion 1 1 210L
Piper PA-34 Seneca 1 0 PA-34-220T
Total 14 14
A British Aerospace Jetstream at Cambridge Bay Airport

Previously operated include:[8]

Accidents and Incidents

References

  1. ^ a b "ICAO Designators for Canadian Aircraft Operating Agencies, Aeronautical Authorities and Services" (PDF). Nav Canada. 4 May 2023. p. 5. Retrieved 26 February 2023. Northwestern Air Lease: PLR, POLARIS
  2. ^ Transport Canada (2 September 2019), Civil Aviation Services (CAS) AOC. wwwapps.tc.gc.ca.
  3. ^ a b "Canadian Civil Aircraft Register: Quick Search Result for Northwestern Air". Transport Canada. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Our Fleet". Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "Destinations". Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  6. ^ "About Us". nwal.ca. Northwestern Air Lease Ltd. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  7. ^ Pruys, Sarah; Williams, Ollie (18 December 2024). "Fort Smith's Northwestern to hand scheduled flights to Air Tindi". Cabin Radio. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  8. ^ "Canadian Civil Aircraft Register: History Search Result". 28 August 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  9. ^ "BREAKING: Fatalities confirmed after aircraft crashes at Fort Smith". CKLB Radio. 23 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  10. ^ "6 people dead in Tuesday's plane crash near Fort Smith, N.W.T., says coroner". CBC News. 24 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
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