History
The airline was founded by Canadian aviation pioneer Russel (Russ) Bradley and started operations as Bradley Air Services in 1946 and is still registered under that name. First Air first started scheduled operations in 1973, between Ottawa and North Bay. This service was operated with an eight-seat passenger plane.
The airline opened southern gateways at Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montreal and Ottawa. Through Kuujjuaq in Nunavik and Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories (NWT), the airline provides services to 26 Inuit communities in Nunavut, Nunavik and the NWT. Service to Sanikiluaq, Nunavut is provided in partnership with Air Inuit. In 1995, First Air bought Ptarmigan Airways, and in 1997 it bought Northwest Territorial Airways, both of which were merged into First Air. In 2011, First Air celebrated its 65th anniversary.
First Air is wholly owned by the Inuit people of Quebec through the Makivik Corporation, who purchased the company in 1990.
On 21 August 2008, First Air fired president Bob Davis and replaced him with new president Scott Bateman. Davis had been president since December 1997 and had several disagreements with First Air over a period of time.
On 5 June 2009, First Air received its first wide-body aircraft, a Boeing 767-223 SF (Super Freighter), which is under a three-year dry lease from (CAM) Cargo Aircraft Management, a subsidiary of Air Transport Services Group (ATSG).
After the introduction of the operationally and logistically more economical Boeing 767-223SF in March 2010, First Air retired and removed its two Boeing 727-233 aircraft from its fleet. One was one of only two combi types in the world, and the last 727-200 in North America on scheduled passenger-freight services. The other 727-233F full freighter has also been phased out. Hawker Siddeley HS 748 C-GFNW has been retired as of March 2011. Replacing this aircraft type are two Aérospatiale ATR72s COMBI aircraft as part of First Air's fleet replacement program. They are outfitted with a cargo handling system, and one is being outfitted with a large cargo door. A first of its kind in North America, it will be able to handle built ULD (Unit Load Device) positions. This in turn will create a larger load capacity and flexibility reaching remote communities. One has come on line the last quarter of 2011, and the second will be on line sometime in the first quarter 2012.
In February 2011, First Air and Qikiqtaaluk Corporation (QC) started a new airline named Qikiqtani First Aviation. The new company provides services throughout Nunavut's Qikiqtani Region using First Air’s fleet. Another airline, Sakku First Aviation, was started the same time in partnership with Sakku Investments Corporation in Nunavut's Kivalliq Region.
In December 2011, Scott Bateman, President and CEO, abruptly resigned his position with First Air. Kris Dolinki became President and CEO after Bateman's departure.
In October 2012, Dolinki resigned his position as President & CEO of First Air. This announcement came shortly after Makivik Corporation stated that after many rumors that its stake in First Air was not for sale. The position of President & CEO has been filled as an interim basis by Chris Ferris, First Air's Vice President of Marketing & Sales.
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