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First Air, the Airline of the North, is operating inaugural flights on Feb. 9, 2016 with its new ATR 42-500 on the route from Yellowknife to Hay River as well as from Yellowknife to Kugluktuk and Cambridge Bay, where it made an appearance during the Kitikmeot tradeshow.
Modernizing the fleet is a key component of the three year turnaround at Canada’s largest northern carrier and as part of a $110 million investment program, the first new ATR 42-500 entered service at its Yellowknife hub.
“We are excited to invest in a more modern fleet of aircraft, well suited for the North,” said Bert van der Stege, VP Commercial at First Air. “The new ATR500 series offers improved seating and comfort and has a better performance.”
The first ATR 42-500 to enter the First Air fleet is a 42-seater all passenger aircraft, perfectly suited for the harsh weather conditions in Canada’s North and able to operate on gravel runways. The aircraft will operate the two daily Yellowknife-Hay River flights as well as to Fort Simpson and on selected Kitikmeot routes.
First Air will introduce ATR 42-500 combi aircraft later this year with a fixed configuration of passenger seats and cargo space. The aircraft will be based at both Northern hubs in Yellowknife and Iqaluit.
The benefit to using ATR 42-500 over the 300 series planes is improved performance and passenger comfort. The upgraded cabin allows for better seating options, as well as an increase in payload capacity.
First Air is well known for its expertise in ATR operations. Besides flying ATRs, the airline offers the largest ATR maintenance and engineering facility in Canada, including heavy maintenance work to third parties.
First Air currently owns 12 ATRs. The new 500 series will be used to expand the fleet, as well as gradually replacing the 300s on scheduled routes. Like all First Air aircraft, the new ATR 42-500 is also available for exclusive charters.
