The Airline of the Yukon: Why Air North Is So Loved by Those Who Try It

History and positioning

Nicknamed "Yukon's Airline", Air North was founded in 1977 and is based in Whitehorse; it is partly owned by its employees and by the Vuntut Development Corporation, tied to the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation. One of its distinctive features is the payment of dividends to Yukon residents who fly regularly, a model almost unique among North American regional carriers.

The fleet

Unlike many Canadian regional airlines that operate small turboprops, Air North flies Boeing 737s on medium-distance routes, offering a product closer to that of the big national carriers.

Routes and network

The network connects Whitehorse with the main Canadian cities — Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Toronto — and with Alaska, but remains confined to the Yukon-central Canada corridor with no broader international ambitions.

On board and service

Cabin service is more often described as warm and genuine compared with other regional carriers, something that sets it apart in a direct comparison with airlines of similar size.

What passengers say

Air North collects some of the most positive ratings among Canadian regional carriers.

• Cabin service often described as warm compared with other regional carriers.
• Dividends for Yukon residents who fly regularly.
• Punctuality perceived as above the average of Canadian regional carriers.

• A small destination network, of little use to those traveling outside the Yukon-central Canada corridor.
• Non-daily frequencies on some routes, especially in the low season.

Air North is the natural choice for anyone who lives in or travels to and from the Yukon, and it is also known among Canadians in the rest of the country as one of the best-regarded regional airlines. Those looking instead for a wide network or direct international links must look elsewhere, because its range remains deliberately limited. It is worth signing up to the local program if you fly often to or from the Yukon, given the dividend mechanism reserved for residents.