Thorunn Howatt
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Mar 04/02) - Timing is everything when it comes to blasting off, and an Iqaluit company is taking advantage of the Arctic Winter Games to start up a new air service.

"Polynya is working with a sister company, a new airline that is being launched within the next couple of weeks," said Polynya Adventure and Co-ordination Ltd.'s co-owner Eric Leuthold. "We want to make sure that people can get to the destinations they want to."

Unaalik Aviation is waiting for Transport Canada approval but it hopes to be flying twin otters within the next six weeks. Iqaluit had regular air service to Greenland until last October when the link was dropped.

Polynya is starting regular air service with five return flights from Iqaluit to Greenland, hoping it will lead to something bigger. The trips start March 16.

"It's a big thing for a small company to lay out the funds to charter five flights," said Leuthold.

Polynya is only a two-year-old company but is expanding fast, taking advantage of Iqaluit's growing tourism economy.

"It was basically myself and Jimi working out of a converted garage-office. We started off small but ended up growing really quickly," said Leuthold, referring to his partner, Jimi Onalik.

He said within the first year of operation the company had two staff. And now after two years Polynya is taking another step toward expansion. The move into the airline business is a big step, and they were careful when starting. Edging into a market niche was one of their biggest challenges. They met with others involved in the tourism and transportation businesses and found a hole. Someone was needed who could liaise with the southern markets.

Polynya wants to look after tourists' needs during the Games and after.

"We can help them arrange anything from hotel stay, flights, conference facilities and all kinds of other requests like catering, translation and cultural entertainment," said Leuthold. He said in the summer the company focuses on tourism. This spring Polynya will handle logistics for the Nunavut Trade Show.