Qikiqtani Inuit Association directors grill First Air, Canadian North over codeshare

Representatives from First Air and Canadian North got an earful about their codeshare agreement at the annual general meeting of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association in Iqaluit Thursday.

Not every community in Nunavut is directly affected by the codeshare agreement, but many people in the Qikiqtaaluk region, including in Pangnirtung, Qikiqtarjuaq, Clyde River and Pond Inlet, say their communities have been hit hard by the changes.

The communities used to have daily flights from Canadian North but now only First Air flies to those communities.

"Having one airline into these communities is not working well," said Peter Evvik, QIA director for Pangnirtung.

"It's giving the residents a very hard time travel-wise and food security — it's affecting everything that comes to the community."

At the meeting, the regional directors with the Qikiqtani Inuit Association grilled representatives from the airlines. They demanded answers on cargo delays, seating shortages and medical travel backlogs.

First Air's vice-president of commercial affairs, Bert van der Stege, stands by the codeshare agreement as "the most efficient and sustainable way of air transportation in Nunavut."

"At the end of the day we run a business and we need to grow our business and invest in our business," he said. "Unfortunately we don't provide a social service."

He says without such an agreement, the airline would have to cancel routes all together.

He will be meeting with the Government of Nunavut tomorrow to hear its concerns.