NAC Air was a Canadian regional airline that began operations in 2000. Its main base was at the Thunder Bay International Airport. NAC Air was a 100% First Nations-owned company, owned by the communities of Eabametoong (Fort Hope), Neskantaga (Lansdowne House), Webequie, Sachigo Lake, and Sandy Lake[2]
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| Founded | 2000 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceased operations | 2008 | ||||||
| Hubs | Thunder Bay International Airport | ||||||
| Fleet size | 11 | ||||||
| Destinations | 26 | ||||||
| Headquarters | Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada | ||||||
| Key people | Tom Meilleur (COO), Dino Armenti (CFO)[1] | ||||||
| Website | http://www.nacair.ca/ | ||||||
NAC Air ceased operations indefinitely in early 2008 due to financial difficulties.[3]
History
editNorth American Charters (NAC) was established in 2000 to provide cheaper and more frequent airline services to First Nations communities in Northwestern Ontario. NAC's airfares were 40-50% lower than its competitors' existing fares[citation needed] and it also offered daily services with the possibility of same-day returns for business travellers. It commenced services with two Piper PA31-350 Chieftains and quickly added a Fairchild SA226-TC Metro II as well. The two Chieftains were soon replaced by the first Pilatus PC-12s and the Metro was also retired at the end of 2001.[4] NAC grew steadily, evolving from the early two aircraft operation serving four communities to an eleven aircraft operation connecting Sioux Lookout, Ontario; Winnipeg; Thunder Bay; Red Lake, Ontario; Thompson, Manitoba and 21 First Nations communities.[5] In 2006 NAC changed its name to NAC Air, this coincided with the company moving into a new three-storey office and hangar complex at the Thunder Bay International Airport. In 2007 a base was opened in Winnipeg, Manitoba, it serviced 2 aircraft which flew out of Winnipeg and 1 which flew out of Thompson, Manitoba.
On 13 January 2008 NAC Air ceased operations indefinitely due to financial difficulties, they claim, stemmed from a lawsuit with rival Wasaya Airways. The shut down forced 150 employees off the job.[3]
Service Communities
edit- Brochet
- Bearskin Lake
- Big Trout Lake
- Deer Lake
- Fort Hope
- Gods Lake Narrows
- Gods River
- Kasabonika
- Lac Brochet
- Muskrat Dam
- Neskantaga
- Norway House
- Oxford House
- Pikangikum
- Red Lake
- Round Lake
- Sachigo Lake
- Sandy Lake
- Shamattawa
- Sioux Lookout
- Summer Beaver
- Tadoule Lake
- Thompson
- Thunder Bay
- Webequie
- Winnipeg
Fleet
editAs of November 2007, NAC Air had a fleet of 11 aircraft.[5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Canadian Company Capabilities - NAC Air - Complete Profile. Retrieved on 15 January 2008
- ^ Stewart, Nick. "Nac Air's new digs bring fleet and staff expansion", Northern Ontario Business, September 2006. Retrieved on 15 January 2008.
- ^ a b "NAC Air grounds its fleet citing financial troubles[permanent dead link]", TBSource, 15 January 2008. Retrieved on 15 January 2008.
- ^ Canadian historic civil aircraft register Archived 2007-10-03 at the Wayback Machine search, using "North American Charters" as the search parameter. Search conducted 2007-11-06.
- ^ a b Canadian civil aircraft register search, using "NAC" as the search parameter. Search conducted 2007-11-06.
External links
edit- NAC Air official website
