Nunavik airline Air Inuit has announced that they will be replacing some of their old Boeing 737-200 series with more modern versions over the next 24 months. In a press release dated July 3, the airline said they will be acquiring three 737-800s that will be modified through the installation of cargo doors to create combination passenger/cargo aircraft.
“The addition of these aircraft to our fleet enhances our capacity to efficiently transport passengers and deliver essential cargo to the communities we serve,” Air Inuit’s CEO Christian Busch said.
The airline currently owns five of the 200 series models which, although equipped with relatively inefficient and highly polluting engines, are capable of landing on gravel airstrips, still commonly found in Northern Canada. The newer models lack that capability.
“Acquiring these modern aircraft also supports our airline’s goal of reducing carbon emissions and doing our part in the fight against climate change,” Busch pointed out. The newer models reduce emissions by almost 40 percent, according to the press release.
The Quebec-based airline is wholly owned by Makivik Corporation. Both entities were created in 1978 to serve the interests of Quebec’s Inuit people. Air Inuit operates a fleet of 24 aircraft and flies to 21 destinations. Other than the Boeing 737s, the company also operates numerous Twin Otters and Dash 8s, which will be used to service destinations incapable of receiving the 737-800s.