NUNAVUT
Canadian North recently announced it will be offering additional flights between Cambridge Bay and the communities of Gjoa Haven, Taloyoak and Kugaaruk in response to criticism concerning recent route changes.

Canadian North senior vice president of scheduled services Peter McCart laughs with Wanda Norwegian of Norterra at the Nunavut Association of Municipalities annual general meeting held in Cambridge Bay from Oct. 5 to 7. Canadian North recently introduced new flights in the Kitikmeot region after McCart met with members of the Kitikmeot Inuit Association during their annual general meeting last month. - Navalik Tologanak/NNSL photo

Spokesperson Kelly Lewis said the airline's change was the result of feedback, including comments senior vice-president of scheduled services Peter McCart received from the Kitikmeot Inuit Association during the organization's annual general meeting early last month.

"(McCart) got very clear and direct feedback from (the KIA) that they wanted to see more direct flights, particularly Cambridge Bay and the communities and Kugluktuk and the Kitikmeot as well," Lewis said of the meeting on Oct. 7. "That's certainly where we got a lot of the feedback from."

Lewis said the number of flights was reduced in July to limit the number of empty seats on certain routes. However, he said feedback was "loud and clear" that the changes weren't working, both from staff on the ground and from executives who visited communities.

"We didn't really hit the mark on it," he said. "The new schedule, there wasn't enough capacity. It was difficult to travel to Cambridge Bay and those Kitikmeot communities. Cargo capacity was being affected as well. This is meant to alleviate that."

Canadian North does also serve the Kitikmeot with codeshare flights between Yellowknife, Kugluktuk and Cambridge Bay, offered as part of an agreement with First Air. This includes daily 737 jet service between Yellowknife and Cambridge Bay (with a stop in Kugluktuk on Fridays) as well as Dash-8 and ATR 42 service between these communities throughout other days of the week.

However, Lewis said these additional flights are strictly operated by Canadian North and are not part of the company's codeshare agreement with First Air. Constituents' criticism concerning changes as a result of that agreement were relayed through Premier Peter Taptuna to News/North in October.

The extra flights between Cambridge Bay and the eastern Kitikmeot also use the 37-seat turboprop Dash 8 planes.

Lewis said the non-refundable pivut fares offered to Inuit beneficiaries at a discount of at least 65 per cent will be offered on the new scheduled flights. However, he declined to disclose the specific number which would be available per flight, only that they would be limited in number and customers should book them well in advance.

"They're definitely not standby," he said. "If you book on Pivut and you've got your reservation, you will have a seat on the aircraft."

Ultimately, Lewis said the company wanted to make sure that customers knew that the company was responsive to feedback.

"We want to offer the schedule and service that meets their needs," he said. "We're happy we're able to make this change."

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