NUNAVUT - First Air has purchased two new aircraft that might reduce the high prices passengers have to pay for airline tickets, especially in the High Arctic.

First Air has purchased two ATR 72 aircraft seen here in the bottom of the photo. They will be converted and will fly with 34 passengers and about 4,000 kilograms of cargo. The aircraft has 80 to 90 per cent more capacity than an ATR 42 seen at the top. One of the ATR 72 planes will go to the High Arctic and it is anticipated the other will fly in the Kitikmeot region. It is hoped that with the addition of these aircraft, ticket prices will come down for passengers. - photo courtesy of First Air

"In a perfect world this would allow us to do something with those prices for those markets but it just depends how efficient the market will let us be," said Chris Ferris, vice-president of marketing and sales with First Air on Nov. 23.

Ferris said First Air has purchased two ATR 72 aircraft from the European company Alitalia. They took possession of the first aircraft on Sept. 1 and expected to receive the other Nov. 29.

Each aircraft can hold 60 passengers. The plan is to reduce that to 34 seats, allowing more space for cargo -- close to 8,000 to 9,000 pounds of cargo or between 3,600 and 4,000 kilograms. It would take two ATR 42 flights to transport the same amount of cargo.

"It has about 80 to 90 per cent more capacity than an ATR 42 for virtually the same cost," Ferris said.

Each plane costs between $7 and $9 million. Since the ATR 42 and 72 are both from the same manufacturer, the company and its staff are aware how to maintain the aircraft.

He said the first plane will enter into service in March 2011. While the schedule has yet to be solidified, Ferris said the plan is to have it serving the Baffin region, specifically Resolute, Arctic Bay and Pond Inlet.

At present, the second plane is scheduled to go to the Kitikmeot region, serving Cambridge Bay, Kugluktuk, Gjoa Haven and Kugaaruk.

The new planes are going to be equipped with a largo cargo door, allowing ground crews to offload and load cargo faster. He said with larger items being sent by plane such as king sized mattresses, large screen televisions and king-sized mattresses, the service has great potential.

Quttiktuq MLA Ron Elliott said while he is happy about the news of the new aircraft, he is still skeptical it will make a difference when it comes to the high cost of air travel.

"I would say I'm hopeful because we now have an airline committed to bringing ATR 72s up," he said.

Option 5 in the GN's High Arctic Transportation Cost Study, labelled the High Arctic-Baffin connection, would see aircraft fly direct to the High Arctic communities from Iqaluit. According to consultants of the study, if an ATR 72 was used for this route instead of a Dash 8-400 airplane by Canadian North, there would be a 55.89 per cent decrease in cost.

As far as the addition of the two new ATR 72s, John Hawkins, GN director of transportation, policy and planning, said this is good news.

"It gives them much better cargo capacity in our area of interest," he said.

While many of the complaints from residents were due to scheduling and shortage of seats, he said this could help be a part of the solution.

Ferris said whether passengers will see lower prices is in the hands of other players such as the territorial and federal governments in negotiating contracts for the medevac and Nutrition North Canada program, respectively.

"We've had some preliminary discussions about the outline of the program but we haven't had any further information," he said in relation to Nutrition North.

Ferris said he still thinks the government should have taken a different approach to the High Arctic Transportation Cost Study.

"They should have talked to the operators who are actually delivering the service rather than coming up with some pie in the sky option," he said.

The GN's Department of Economic Development and Transportation who commissioned the study said they would be meeting with the airlines in September to discuss the various options. Ferris said this has not happened yet.

The department gave the study to the Northern Air Transport Association, who represents

the northern air carriers in the decision-making process affecting transportation in Northern Canada on Nov. 22, said Hawkins. He said it was better to go through the association rather than approach carriers individually.

The High Arctic Council, made up of the communities' mayors, senior administrative officers and MLA for Quttiktuq Ron Elliott were to present the options of the study to members of the communities.

"We would like the communities to come up with a consensus, we haven't got that yet," said Hawkins, adding he said he knows the need for each community will be different.

The plan is to gather the mayors in Iqaluit in early in the New Year to see if a consensus can be reached. Hawkins said then the government will be in a position to go to the airlines with a more firm idea of what is needed.

Elliott said he is also frustrated that the airlines have yet to be consulted.

"I would consult the airlines and say 'what do you think?' but they're saying they will put out a request for proposals for the options," he said.

As far as Ferris is concerned, First Air will continue with its plans.

"We're working pretty closely with the people who make up that market and we know about the markets that we serve and we react accordingly," he said.

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