First Air flight cuts anger Cambridge Bay residents

DENISE RIDEOUT

The mayor of Cambridge Bay says he’s stunned that First Air cut one of its flights to the town, essentially reducing travel to and from the Kitikmeot community.

Until Jan 14, First Air flew its jets into Cambridge Bay, the hub of the Kitikmeot region, three times a week. But the airline’s new flight schedule has reduced the jet service to twice a week between Cambridge Bay and Yellowknife.

Mayor Keith Peterson said the airline’s move is a step backward. “We’re way over here in the far reaches of Nunavut, so one of the things we need to be part of Canada and to be part of Nunavut is good connections to transportation.”

Peterson said First Air officials have told him the airline dropped the third flight to cut costs in an especially difficult time for the airline industry. Following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, fewer people have been flying, and airlines — including First Air — are feeling the pinch.

But Peterson suspects there are others reasons for the cut in service. “I think it has a lot to do with taking jets and moving them over to Inuvik, where there’s oil and gas, and trying to capitalize on the economics over there,” he said.

On the same day First Air announced its reduced flights to Cambridge Bay, the airline added two new flights to Inuvik.

Either way, the mayor said the decision to reduce jet service doesn’t sit well with Cambridge Bay residents. “Going to two jets a week from three on First Air just doesn’t work. They’re providing a lesser level of service than we’ve grown accustomed to,” Peterson said.

Now, instead of jet service to and from Cambridge Bay on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, they’re flying on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The new schedule makes travelling to and from the community a little more challenging, Peterson said. It also makes it difficult to make connections, which means some flyers have to stay overnight in Yellowknife.

“People aren’t happy,” Peterson said. Between 30 and 40 residents have phoned Peterson in the past week to ask him to urge the airline to bring back a third flight.

Residents will have a chance to air their concerns to First Air when the airline holds a public meeting in the community on Jan. 30.