Summary
- Air Inuit has received two latest Boeing 737-800s to interchange their older Boeing 737-200s, which have been serving passengers for over 40 years.
- The carrier plans so as to add three more 737-800 combis to their fleet, which may have cargo doors and a passenger cabin within the rear.
- The brand new 737-800s would require construction or renovation at some airports attributable to their inability to land on gravel runways, unlike the older 737-200s.
On 24 August 2023, Canadian carrier Air Inuit received the primary two of its Boeing 737-800s which can soon be converted into combi freighters. These aircraft will replace the carrier’s trademark Boeing 737-200 combis, the retirement of which was announced this past June. The aircraft in query are over 40 years old and have served hundreds of passengers throughout their lifespans.
Photo: Air Inuit
The carrier intends so as to add three latest 737-800 combis to the fleet, which may have not only major deck cargo doors but in addition a rear passenger cabin. While Boeing offered combi versions of the 737-200, 737-300, and 737-400, none were ever available for the 737 Next Generation. Thus, KF Aerospace, a Canadian maintenance and overhaul firm, has been granted a Supplemental Type Certificate to perform the conversion process.
Air Inuit is a 44-year-old domestic passenger airline that connects destinations across northern Quebec and Nunavut and likewise offers charter and cargo services. The carrier maintains a fleet of 28 aircraft and flies to twenty destinations with 51 each day flights on 58 different routes.
The jets themselves
The 2 aircraft were originally manufactured in 2010, and operated by South African carrier Comair. The jets were sold as a part of the now-defunct carrier’s ongoing liquidation process. Each jets received pre-delivery maintenance services at Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), before stopping at São Tomé and Santa Maria, Portugal, before their ultimate arrival at Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL).
These aircraft, despite being a more recent model with quite a few technological benefits, can be at a big operational drawback as compared to the carrier’s prior fleet of 737-200s. The unique combis were equipped for landings and takeoffs from gravel runways, while the newer 737-800s will not be prepared for such operations. Subsequently, construction or renovation may have to happen at multiple of the airports Air Inuit operates out of, especially in Nunavut.
Air Inuit in 2023
Currently, Air Inuit maintains a various fleet of aircraft in a position to serve a multi-role purpose operating passenger, cargo, and charter services. The fleet includes 25 turboprops, that are split between three Beechcraft Super King Air, seven de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, and 15 De Havilland Canada Dash-8 aircraft. The King Airs are used to fly passenger services, while the Twin Otters and Dash 8s are used for a mixture of cargo and passenger services.
Photo: Air Inuit
On the jet side, the carrier still operates 5 Boeing 737-200 combis that are scheduled for retirement. These jets can accommodate as much as 112 passengers. The carrier also maintains 1 Boeing 737-300 in a full-passenger configuration, in a position to accommodate as much as 130 passengers. With an upgraded fleet, Air Inuit will find a way to proceed connecting residents of Canada’s most distant areas for the foreseeable future.