First Air

First Air was a Canadian airline specializing in scheduled and charter passenger and cargo services to remote communities across northern Canada, including Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and northern Quebec. The airline played a vital role in linking isolated Arctic communities to southern Canada, often serving as the primary or only air link for many settlements. Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Ottawa, First Air operated a mixed fleet capable of handling both passengers and cargo in harsh northern conditions. The airline was wholly owned by the Makivik Corporation, an organization representing Inuit of Nunavik, giving it a strong connection to the indigenous communities it served. In 2019, First Air merged with Canadian North, another northern carrier, to form a unified airline operating under the Canadian North name. The merger was intended to improve efficiency and sustainability of air service across Canada's North. First Air's final flights operated in October 2019.