Island Express Air

Island Express Air
A Piper PA-31 Navajo of Island Express Air
IATA ICAO Call sign
- IAX[1] ABBOTSFORD AIR[1]
Founded2009
Ceased operations2020
AOC #19080[2]
HubsAbbotsford International Airport
Focus citiesVictoria, Nanaimo
Fleet size11[3]
Destinations6[4]
Parent companyShorebird Enterprises
HeadquartersAbbotsford, British Columbia
Key peopleJim Young
Websitewww.islandexpressair.com

Island Express Air was a small Canadian airline based in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Its first flight was on August 7, 2009, as part of the Abbotsford International Airshow.[5] It operated scheduled air service between the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, as well as charter flights and cargo service. On February 23, 2018, one of their planes, a King Air B100, crashed at Abbotsford Airport (CYXX) immediately after take-off in blizzard conditions.[6] As a result of this accident, and due to public safety concerns, Transport Canada suspended Island Express' air operator's certificate (AOC) shortly thereafter, on February 28, 2018.[7] However, following a robust review of the company's safety procedures the operating certificate was reinstated on June 26, 2018.[8] The company slogan was Your Island Connection.

In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Island Express Air ceased operations and sold its assets to a group of investors.[9]

Destinations

All destinations as of August 2019 were within British Columbia:[4]

Fleet

Fleet as of August 2019:[3]

Island Express Air
Aircraft No. of
aircraft		 Variants Notes
Beechcraft King Air 1 100 series
Piper PA-28 Cherokee 1 PA-28-151 Cherokee Warrior
Piper PA-31 Navajo 6 PA-31-325 Navajo, PA-31-350 Chieftain
Piper PA-32 1 PA-32-301 Saratoga

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "ICAO Designators for Canadian Aircraft Operating Agencies, Aeronautical Authorities and Services" (PDF). Nav Canada. 2023-05-04. p. 4. Retrieved February 26, 2023. Island Express Air: IAX, ABBOTSFORD AIR
  2. ^ Transport Canada (2019-09-01), Civil Aviation Services (CAS) AOC. wwwapps.tc.gc.ca.
  3. ^ a b "Canadian Civil Aircraft Register: Quick Search Result for Island Express Air". Transport Canada. Retrieved 2019-08-24.
  4. ^ a b "Island Express Air Routes & Schedules". Archived from the original on 2019-08-24. Retrieved 2019-08-24.
  5. ^ Tucker, Cam (7 August 2009). "Island Express ready to lighten travel load". Abbotsford Times. p. 12.
  6. ^ "UPDATED: Abbotsford airline grounded after YXX accident was fined $30,000 last year - Abbotsford News". Abbotsford News. 2018-02-28. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  7. ^ Canada, Transport (2018-02-28). "Transport Canada suspends Island Express Air's Air Operator Certificate - Canada.ca". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  8. ^ "Transport Canada reinstates Island Express Air for operations following February crash". CHEK. 2018-06-26. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
  9. ^ "COVID-19: New air carrier sought for Qualicum Beach Airport". 22 September 2020.