Bombardier, Air Inuit to launch new cargo-friendly aircraft

Air Inuit will be the launch customer for Bombardier’s new passenger-to-freighter conversion of the Q300. (IMAGE COURTESY OF AIR INUIT)

Quebec aircraft manufacturer Bombardier has teamed up with Nunavik’s Air Inuit to develop a passenger-to-freighter version of the Q300 turboprop.

The Makivik Corp.-owned Air Inuit, which flies between all 14 Nunavik communities, is a long-time operator of the Q300 aircraft.

Now the Montreal-based airline will be the launch customer for the new conversion, the airlines said in a joint March 1 release.

“With its excellent airfield performance — especially on gravel runways — the Q300 aircraft is well adapted for remote operations like those required to support Canada’s resource industries and northern communities,” said Air Inuit’s vice president and chief operating officer, Christian Busch.

“The Q300 aircraft has served us well in our passenger, charter and cargo operations in Nunavik and other markets for many years, and we look forward to enhancing our cargo services.”

Under the new partnership, Air Inuit says it will expand its cargo services with three of the new large cargo door freighters.

The freighter will include a door large enough to accommodate palletized and free load cargo, the airlines said. The converted Q300 is expected to have a cargo capacity of 12,500 pounds.

Air Inuit currently operates a fleet of 25 aircraft, which includes two Bombardier Q100 models and 10 Q300 turboprops.