Thorunn Howatt
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Aug 12/02) - Travellers can book more destinations directly through Canadian North thanks to a new partnership with Ken Borek Air Ltd. and North-Wright Airways Ltd.

"Our ownership group said 'We live in Pond and you don't serve us,' " said Canadian North's Dan Kane.

One-half of Canadian North Airline is owned by the Inuit of the Eastern Arctic through development corporations and the other half is owned by an Inuvialuit development corporation in the Western Arctic.

The new system should solve the problem. Now travellers can book to Pond Inlet through Canadian North.

Canadian North recently brought its own computer system on board. It's called a code-sharing system in the industry.

The new system allows a travel agent to book a customer directly through to places where Canadian North's aircraft don't fly -- but Ken Borek or North-Wright's do.

"Between their network and our network, we are making it easier for customers to book travel," said Kane, explaining that people in Pond Inlet and Iglulik will be able to book directly through the Canadian North reservation system.

"We fly to more communities in the North than First Air does."

Since the partnerships there are only four Northern communities not served by Canadian North -- Nanisivik, Arctic Bay, Hall Beach and Clyde River.

The new routes also mean that a traveller can fly as far as from Grise Fjord to Edmonton in one day.