IQALUIT - Canadian North will look after check-in, ramp handling and baggage services for the Air Canada flights at Iqaluit airport starting March 28.

Canadian North will look after check-in, ramp handling and baggage services for the Air Canada flights at Iqaluit airport starting March 28. - NNSL file photo

Canadian North president Tracy Medve said the Inuit-owned airline has also changed the time of their Iqaluit-Ottawa flight to alleviate some of the congestion at the Iqaluit Airport and to allow better connections for their customers to Air Canada flights.

"The net effect of what the agreement will do is give Canadian North customers easier access to a broader network of flight services as we give them easier access to Air Canada's world by connections through the south," said Medve.

Air Canada's Bombardier CRJ 705 flight will leave daily from Iqaluit at 1:40 p.m. arriving in Ottawa at 5:07 p.m. The flight will continue on to Montreal at 5:55 p.m. landing at Montreal's Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport at 6:13 p.m.

Starting at the end of the month, Canadian's North Boeing 737 jet will leave Iqaluit at 1:15 p.m., departing 35 minutes earlier than its current time. The flight would then land in Ottawa at 4:20 p.m.

Other benefits for Canadian North customers under discussion are allowing frequent flyers use of Air Canada's Maple Leaf lounges.

Medve said the two companies have been in talks off and on since 2003.

"We've always thought an arrangement of this nature would be good," she said.

Since Canadian North will be checking in passengers for both airlines, there are talks of renovating its counter space at the Iqaluit Airport. Medve said the company is working with the airport's management "to make things run as efficiently as possible given the restricted amount of space."

While customers may be happy that a third airline has entered the marketplace, First Air's vice-president of marketing and sales Chris Ferris said the news "is not that Earth-shattering for the consumer."

"It is very curious that they would enter into an agreement with a direct competitor," said Ferris from the company's head office in Ottawa.

He said Canadian North is going back on what they have said in the past in the media about southern carriers "cherry-picking in the North."

According to Ferris, the two companies will be offering a new service that is not necessary. He said with the addition of Air Canada flights, the Iqaluit market will be over-served.

When asked if the customers will reap the benefits of more competition, Ferris said his airline has already reduced prices since Air Canada announced service to and from Iqaluit. The company has advertised fares of $599 flight one-way Iqaluit-Ottawa plus tax.

Ferris said he does not think all three airlines will be available for customers to chose from at this time next year. First Air already has a program with Air Canada where frequent flyers under Aeroplan Super Elite and Elite members have access to the Air Canada Maple Leaf lounges in Edmonton and Ottawa, said Ferris.

He said his company is focused on expansion within the territory and expanding their current services and ensuring First Air passengers can make connections from their communities and to the South.