Canadian North pulls out of Ottawa-Iqaluit codeshare

A month into its codeshare agreement with First Air, Canadian North has gone back to operating its Ottawa-Iqaluit route solo. (FILE PHOTO)

A month into its new codeshare agreement, Canadian North has pulled out of one route it began jointly operating with First Air this summer.

One of the key features of the new codeshare, which went into place Aug. 1, saw First Air and Canadian North operating twice daily flights from Ottawa to Iqaluit and back.

Under the new agreement, First Air operated an Ottawa-Iqaluit flight each morning at 9:15 a.m., while Canadian North departed Ottawa at 12:45 p.m., with return flights to the South departing Iqaluit at 1:45 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

And as part of the codeshare, customers could book flights with either of the two airlines.

But starting Sept. 1, Canadian North decided to go back to operating that route solo, reverting to its previous Ottawa departures, at 9:05 a.m. and 1:40 p.m.

The airline described the move as temporary.

“As of Sept 1, First Air is temporarily using an aircraft operated by a different provider due to maintenance requirements for its existing aircraft,” said Canadian North spokesman Kelly Lewis.

“We feel the market is best served by adding Canadian North operated seats in the peak travel morning period while this arrangement is in place.”

Lewis said the airline continues to monitor its flights and will fine tune schedules to best serve customers.

The remainder of its codeshare agreement with First Air, which services the Baffin and Kitikmeot regions, is still in effect, Lewis added.

Overall, he said, the codeshare has been “positive for customers and for the airlines.”

Well, maybe not for everyone. The arrangement has created headaches for many Nunavummiut travellers who say they are left with less choice in air travel options.

Meeka Kilabuk was scheduled to fly from Iqaluit to Ottawa Sept. 1 to make it to a Sept. 2 medical appointment.

That’s the same day First Air started operating that flight with the aircraft and staff of another carrier — Flair Air.

When Kilabuk requested to keep a bag filled with insulin and other important medication with her as carry on, she said the airline staff checked it as luggage.

Once seated on the plane, Kilabuk asked for the bag.

“They told me I could run through security again,” Kilabuk said. “I can’t run anywhere — I’m an elder! The flight attendant told me, ‘Either you stay on the flight without your meds or get off.’”

Kilabuk said she had to miss her flight in order to retrieve her medication, and then had to reschedule her medical appointment for two weeks later.

Regardless of the new codeshare agreement, Kilabuk said Nunavummiut deserve better service.

“No one should be treated like this,” she said. “We need an airline who will brings competition, who will give good services and who is sensitive to Inuit and their language.”