NAC Air

NAC Air
IATA ICAO Call sign
- HMR HAMMER
Founded2000
Ceased operations2008
HubsThunder Bay International Airport
Fleet size11
Destinations26
HeadquartersThunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Key peopleTom Meilleur (COO), Dino Armenti (CFO)[1]
Websitehttp://www.nacair.ca/

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]

NAC Air ceased operations indefinitely in early 2008 due to financial difficulties.[3]

History

North 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

Fleet

As of November 2007, NAC Air had a fleet of 11 aircraft.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ Canadian Company Capabilities - NAC Air - Complete Profile. Retrieved on 15 January 2008
  2. ^ Stewart, Nick. "Nac Air's new digs bring fleet and staff expansion", Northern Ontario Business, September 2006. Retrieved on 15 January 2008.
  3. ^ a b "NAC Air grounds its fleet citing financial troubles[permanent dead link‍]", TBSource, 15 January 2008. Retrieved on 15 January 2008.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ a b Canadian civil aircraft register search, using "NAC" as the search parameter. Search conducted 2007-11-06.