Innu, Inuit join forces to create new airline for Labrador

A Labrador airline servingthe region since before the province joined Canada is folding into a new, joint operation called Air Borealis.

Air Labrador is majority owned by the business arm of the Nunatsiavut Government, the Nunatsiavut Group of Companies (NGC).

It will combine with Innu Mikun another Labradorairline with Indigenous ownership to formthe new company which will begin operation on June 16.

The InnuDevelopment Limited Partnership (IDLP) "has enjoyed an excellent relationship with PAL Airlines over the last 20 years and we are excited to launch our new brand for this partnership,"Simon Osmond, business manager of IDLP,said in a press release.

"Air Borealis is positioned very well for future growth and enhanced service. We thank the NGC leadership for working with us to make this a reality and look forward to continued success."

The move will create a monopoly onair serviceto Labrador's northern coastal communities, which are accessible only by plane for most of the year, and rely on airlines for travel and essentials such asfood shipments.

Air Borealis will introduce a new midday flight to the north coast and willhave access to more aircraft "enabling faster response times and greater capacity for the delivery of goods and passengers," according to a statement Friday.

PAL Airlines, which currently runs Innu Mikun, will also run Air Borealis.

In a separate press release on Friday, PAL announced it would be extending its service to seven airports onthe lower north shore of Quebec, where Air Labrador used to operate.

Innuand Inuitreceivediscounted fares through Air Labrador andInnuMikun. Thepercentage of the discount hasn'tyet been determined for AirBorealis,but an Air Labrador spokesperson said Friday that somesort of reduction forInnuand Inuitwould be kept in place.