Nunavut air transport provider folds before getting off the ground

Go Sarvaq, an upstart air passenger service trying to get a foothold in the Nunavut market, announced May 6 that it will fold before its first flight. More to come from a news conference Mon., May 9.

Nunavut’s underdog air service provider, Go Sarvaq, is calling it quits — dashing hopes of a more competitive northern flight industry just two weeks before the company’s inaugural flight to Ottawa was set to depart May 20.

“It is with deep regret we are notifying you to advise we will not be able to operate Go Sarvaq,” the company said in an email to ticket holders May 6.

“This is the kind of note you hope you never have to write.”

Go Sarvaq, and its air carrier partner, the Kelowna, B.C.-based Flair Air, are not commenting further on the decision to pull the plug.

Sarvaq introduced Flair as its new air carrier last month, when original partner Nolinor backed out.

A news conference has been scheduled for May 9, at Iqaluit’s Frobisher Inn, at 1:30 PM, according to Sarvaq President Adamie Itorcheak and Flair airline’s vice president Chris Lapointe.

Sarvaq’s decision to fold comes less than two weeks after an aggressive seat sale campaign by Canadian North and First Air, offering one-way tickets to Ottawa for $399 — roughly $1000 cheaper than standard fares.

That seat sale fueled suspicions on social media that Canadian North and First Air were working in collaboration to drive out any possible competition to their unpopular codeshare agreement.

“This shakeup proves prices between Ottawa and Iqaluit don’t have to be in the thousands,” Go Sarvaq director of network operations, Brian Tattuinee, said on his Twitter account May 20.

The airlines faced similar criticism in January, when Canadian North, First Air and Calm Air executives defended the codeshare agreement before a full caucus hearing at Nunavut’s legislature.

“If the northern airline market cannot handle more than one company operating in a given region, you are basically asking for a monopoly,” Premier Peter Taptuna told the executives at that hearing Jan. 26.

Go Sarvaq told ticket holders its lower-cost airfare to Ottawa is no longer feasible in the current conditions.

“Unfortunately, we find ourselves in a position where we have to admit defeat, now, in order to protect competitive pricing for out potential passengers,” Go Sarvaq stated.