IQALUIT - Residents of Kitikmeot hamlets say it will be good to have new scheduled passenger and cargo flights into the region when Canadian North starts flying June 3.

Thousands of people turned out May 16-18 to welcome the Inuit-owned airline to Taloyoak, Kugaaruk, Gjoa Haven and Kugluktuk. As well, the airline held a reception in Cambridge Bay, where Canadian North will expand service to seven days a week from four, as part of its five-community tour.

The airline has leased a Dash-8 to serve the communities. It can carry up to 21 passengers and 1,360 kg of cargo. Canadian North is owned by NorTerra, a company owned jointly by the Nunasi Corporation and Inuvialuit Development Corp.

"I'll be flying on that plane on the 10th of June," said John Ningark of Kugaaruk. "Competition is healthy. It's good to have choice."

Canadian North announced the new service early this year, after Kenn Borek Airlines pulled out of the communities in January.

"We can create jobs and economic activity," said Tom Ruth, airline president.

The company is working with businesses in each hamlet, including community Co-ops, to provide cargo, passenger and charter service. Ruth figures up to a dozen jobs will be created thanks to the expanded service.

Charlie Lyall, a Canadian North board member and president of the Kitikmeot Corporation, said the airline's move into new communities, now just served by First Air, is already having an impact.

"Other airlines have started to cut fares dramatically," he said.

Lyall said he also hopes expansion in Nunavut will attract Inuit to seek flight crew jobs.

While Canadian North has expanded quite a bit during the past few years, doubling the size of its fleet and expanding its charter business, starting operations in four new communities is quite a job, said Randy Straker, Yellowknife-based customer service manager.

"The first thing is seeing what we have for facilities," he explained. In Taloyoak, that means bringing in a portable podium to serve as a customer service counter in the tiny airport terminal.

During just a couple of months planning, the company has also had to negotiate with the Government of Nunavut, arrange for telephone and data lines, hire contractors and bring in equipment and supplies like scales, de-icing gear and paperwork.

"We've been going over and over it, trying to think of every scenario," he explained.

Straker said ticketing will be done manually for the first while, and after the service is in place, the company will look at automating operations.

Future expansion to other Northern communities may also be in the works for Canadian North, said Ruth, noting the airline presently works with partner airlines in regions it doesn't serve directly.

"Our long-term mandate is to grow in the North," he said. "We'll try not to get too far ahead of ourselves."