Yellowknife (July 12/06) - Air Canada Jazz touched down in Yellowknife last week bringing with it a number of new jobs.

The airline will operate three booths in the Yellowknife Airport, said Debra Williams, spokesperson for Air Canada Jazz.

Eight full- and part-time customer service agent jobs have been created.

"Six customer agents were hired locally and two were transferred," said Williams.

Air Canada Jazz has also contracted its ground and baggage handling responsibilities to Atco Frontec Services.

Besides additional employment at the airport, Williams said flight crews who overnight in the city "are taking full advantage of lots of the services in Yellowknife."

Vicenta Bugg is one Yellowknifer who was hired on as a customer service agent.

"I'm really excited to be working with Air Canada Jazz," she said.

A training course was held for five weeks in Vancouver, which Bugg attended along with the five other customer service agents hired here. She admits that the first week has been hectic, but is glad that she experienced the training.

"There are some growing pains, but they come with everything," she said.

Gerd Wiatzka, a Torontonian who visits into Yellowknife frequently, said that he enjoyed flying into the city in mid-afternoon.

"Normally I come in the late evening."

While Wiatzka enjoyed the earlier arrival, he did notice one difference in the flight.

"It didn't have the (First Air) meal," he said, in reference to the Air Canada Jazz's bare bones flight, which doesn't provide a meal but does offer snacks.

The arrival of Air Canada Jazz may cause a bit of activity in terms of flight prices, said Mike Olson, First Air's director of sales and western region representative.

"We will continue to provide great service that is unique to the North," said Olson.

Tom Ruth, president of Canadian North, echoed Olson's comments.

"The North is extremely important and we will continue to emphasize that," said Ruth.