Hay River (Oct 20/03) - A Peace River-based airline is considering expanding its service to Hay River and Yellowknife.

Albert Cooper, president and CEO of Peace Air Ltd., says there is no timetable for his company to begin service to the North, noting it might begin within a year.

Albert Cooper, owner of Peace Air Ltd., was part of a delegation that visited Hay River and Yellowknife last week.

Cooper was part of a government and business delegation that visited Hay River and Yellowknife on Oct. 14.

"This is really exploratory for us at the request of the Town of Hay River," he said, following a meeting with town council.

Cooper describes his airline as serving a niche market with small planes, which can provide new connections to Edmonton, Calgary and elsewhere.

The company flies the 18-seat BAE JetStream and the nine-seat Pilatus PC-12 aircraft.

Peace Air would work with existing air carriers in the market and determine what is not currently available, and "simply try to fill that void," Cooper said.

The Peace River delegation also included Mayor Lorne Mann and other municipal officials, along with representatives of the Peace River Chamber of Commerce.

Mann said Peace River is not seeking to steal business or people from the North.

"We're here to communicate and connect with you in a mutually beneficial Northern alliance."

The delegation received a warm welcome in Hay River.

"We're more than willing to share ideas at the business and political level," said Duncan McNeill, Hay River mayor.