Air Inuit

Air Inuit is a regional airline that provides vital passenger, charter, cargo and emergency air transport services throughout northern Quebec and destinations across Canada and the United States. Air Inuit began operations in 1978 with the purchase of a single-engine De Havilland Beaver aircraft, followed shortly afterward by a pair of Twin Otters, a Single Otter and a DHC3 based in Kuujjuaq. In 1983, the company purchased the routes north along the eastern Hudson’s Bay coast from Austin Airways, increasing its Twin Otter fleet to 8. In 1985, the company acquired its first Hawker Siddley 748 and began operating from a base in Kuujjuaraapik which was later relocated to La Grande (LG2) to address the growing demand to move cargo and heavy machinery throughout the region, primarily for mining purposes. In 1988, Johnny May’s Air Charters was purchased as a subsidiary company running Single Otters and Beavers during the float season. In 1995, the company embarked on an ambitious expansion plan, introducing De Havilland Dash-8-100 service between Montreal and Nunavik. Subsequently, in 1998, Nunavik Rotors is created and a rotary-wing service is added to the region from its base in Kuujjuaq with the purchase of an Aerospatiale Astar 350 helicopter. In 2008, the airline acquired a Boeing 737-200C capable of landing on gravel and specially adapted for northern operations much to the pride of management and customers alike. Today, after more than 37 years in operation, Air Inuit has become an important regional carrier in Canada. The company has recently built a multi-purpose state-of-the-art maintenance center and head office near Montreal’s Trudeau International airport as part of a sweeping modernization initiative designed to meet increased demand for air transport services throughout Northern Quebec and other destinations across Canada and the United States.