Air Tindi pausing flights between Yellowknife and Whatı
Flight lacked popularity, was costing airline too much, president says
A Yellowknife airline has put a pause on its flights to Whatı̀, N.W.T., saying almost no one was taking the flight and it has cost the airline approximately $250,000 over the past four years.
Air Tindi President Chris Reynolds told CBC that since Whatì’s all-season road opened four years ago, the flight to the community has drastically dipped in popularity.
The flight will be officially suspended indefinitely on Oct. 12, he said.
The story was first reported by Cabin Radio.
The flight, which departs three times a week, had previously carried up to 19 people per trip, Reynolds said. But now, a total of just eight people are booked for the coming three months.
The flight lasts about 35 minutes, while the drive takes around two and a half hours. Asked why people would opt for the longer option, Reynolds said it’s a common choice.
“If you live [in an] isolated community, a drive isn’t a painful experience; it’s a liberating experience,” he said.
After years of the flight’s popularity dwindling, Reynolds said having to pause it doesn’t come as a surprise. What’s toughest about the situation, he said, is the impact it can have on medical travel.
President concerned about medical travel
“That probably made it drag out for us to hold off on this,” he said.
Reynolds said Whatı̀ residents tend to come to Yellowknife for health-related procedures and examinations. If someone needed to go to the hospital, they could take a flight via Air Tindi.
“You don’t want somebody to suffer through a two-hour-and-40-minute drive if they’re in any sort of discomfort, and that’s probably why it held on as long as it held on” said Reynolds.
But he also said such medical trips are not common for the airline — or at least not common enough to fill a plane three times per week.
CBC reached out to speak with Whatı̀ Chief Charles Nitsiza but he wasn’t immediately available. CBC also has approached the Whatı̀ Health Centre for comment.
While there will be no flights for the foreseeable future, Reynolds said that doesn’t mean they will never come back.
“Maybe there will be some way of subsidizing it, where different groups can pick a day to go, and we’d be happy to accommodate,” he said.
The change has no impact on Air Tindi staffing, Reynolds added.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Canadian North teams up with university to tackle pilot shortage, Eye on the Arctic
Finland: Record December passenger numbers for airports in Arctic Finland, Eye on the Arctic
Norway: Air France launches flights to three destinations above the Arctic Circle, The Independent Barents Observer
United States: Why are elite fighter pilots leaving the U.S. Air Force?, Alaska Public Media
