Whitehorse, Yukon-based airline Air North is moving its southern-based aircraft dispatch service to the Yukon capital, becoming the first major Canadian airline to have their entire flight operations team based in the North.

When Air North started flying Boeing 737 jets in 2002, they made the decision to outsource their flight dispatch needs to a Calgary, Alberta-based company. There was no flight dispatch expertise in the Yukon at that time.

The move will create six highly skilled jobs based in Whitehorse. The airline also announced the creation of a flight dispatcher training program to ensure ongoing expertise.

“The opening of Air North’s Flight Dispatch Centre is not only a significant accomplishment for the company, but for the north overall,” Air North’s chief dispatcher Chad Wilson said in a statement. “To be able to provide this skilled service and training program is really a first here in the Yukon. It’s an honour to be a part of it.”

The Indigenous-owned company expects to realize more efficient dispatching given the local knowledge and experience local dispatchers will bring.

The flight dispatch centre began operations on June 15.

Photo courtesy of Air North