• Code: 7F
• Name: FIRST AIR
• Tel: +1 613-254-6200
• Fax: +1 613-254-6398
• E-Mail: reservat@firstair.ca
• Foundation: 1946
• Country: Canada
• Web: www.firstair.ca

History

Canadian aviation pioneer Russell (Russ) Bradley started his pilot training centre and flying school in Ottawa in 1946. From the outset, Russ proved to be an innovator. He and his legendary pilot and partner, Weldy Phipps, revolutionized Arctic flying capability by developing the large balloon-like “tundra tires" in response to the Geological Survey of Canada contract awarded to Bradley Air Services in the late 1950s. As a result, their large and growing client list had much greater choice as to where and when they could land in the High Arctic.

In a few short decades, Bradley Air Services Ltd. has evolved to become Canada's foremost Arctic and remote region air carrier, operating under the trademark name First Air.

Today, First Air, The Airline of the North, is owned by Makivik Corporation, the body responsible for administering the land claim settlement of the Inuit of northern Quebec. Through a series of acquisitions in recent years (Ptarmigan Airways and NWT Air), First Air has expanded its fleet, its route system, and already extensive range of air carrier capability.

First Air first started scheduled operations in 1973, between Ottawa and North Bay, Ontario. This service was operated with an eight seat passenger plane. Eventually, the airline would have southern gateways at Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montreal and Ottawa. Through Kuujjuaq, in northern Quebec, the airline provides vital services to the Inuits, covering 16 Inuit communities with its 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.

First Air is wholly owned by the Inuit people of Quebec through the Makivik Corporation, who purchased the company in 1990.