Yukon’s aviation sector will receive more than $7 million dollars in support to continue providing essential services to and from the territory and its remote communities. The second phase of aviation support includes funding from the federal government to address the unique needs of remote communities in the North.
Air North will receive up to $5.7 million to continue operating its scheduled service connecting Whitehorse to Vancouver, and connecting Whitehorse to Old Crow and Dawson City. Alkan Air will receive up to $300,000 to continue to provide medevac services across the territory. A further $1.1 million is available to support charter and rotary carriers to support essential service operations.
The Government of Yukon is also extending aviation fee waivers until March 31, 2021. This will save the aviation industry approximately $234,000. In total, the fee waiver is saving Yukon air operators more than $1 million.
The Government of Yukon provided approximately $3.6 million in phase one federal support to the local aviation industry to provide essential and critical services. This brings the total amount of support funding in the Yukon to over $10 million in 2020.
Aviation is critical to the North, and our government is working with our federal partners to support Yukon’s aviation industry to keep our communities connected. Throughout the pandemic, Yukon’s air carriers have transported essential goods, medical supplies and health care workers to and from the territory. This funding ensures they continue to provide the services Yukoners rely on.
Minister of Highways and Public Works Richard Mostyn
COVID-19 has created unprecedented and catastrophic challenges for all airlines. Northern Carriers have been particularly hard-hit simply because we are maintaining flight schedules that are not viable at current levels of demand but are required in order to ensure the timely and affordable movement of passengers and cargo and in order to protect northern jobs and Indigenous investment. Air North, Yukon’s Airline is extremely thankful to both the Yukon Government and to the Government of Canada for the help provided to date and for the future assistance committed to in today’s announcement.
Air North President Joe Sparling
Matthew Cameron
Cabinet Communications
867-393-7136
matthew.cameron@gov.yk.ca
Oshea Jephson
Communications, Highways and Public Works
867-332-3568
oshea.jephson@gov.yk.ca