by Jennifer Pritchett
Northern News Services

NNSL (Feb 17/97) - Travelling down south from Hay River is now a little easier, thanks to earlier scheduled flights going to Yellowknife and on to other Canadian destinations.

Gilbert Narmandeau, manager of arctic community services at First Air, said there are two flights a day during the week and one on Saturday and Sunday with the airline.

The service provides residents of Hay River with earlier flights to choose from and better access to connections to major Canadian cities via NWT Air.

"We've always had flights across the lake. Now, we've just moved the times up (earlier in the day)," said Normandeau.

"You can come from anywhere else in Canada and to Hay River by the afternoon (from Yellowknife.) Coming from Hay River in the morning, you can be in Edmonton before lunch and catch a connector to any of the major market destinations in Canada."

He said that First Air is targeting the Hay River market and so far the new flights have been successful.

"We are encouraged by the number of people taking the flights," he said.

The Gulfstream G1 which seats 30 passengers, is the aircraft used for most scheduled flights to Hay River.