I went my way to my gate at YVR - Vancouver’s International Airport. Today that gate is B18 - the one most commonly used by Air North - Yukon’s airline. While all of the gates in this wing tend to be for regional destinations - Victoria, Prince George, Nelson and the like, there’s always something special about this particular departure lounge when that 737 with its orange logo is parked at the end of the jet bridge.
First of all, it’s clear that most of the departing passengers aren’t ‘from round here.’ In winter that becomes even more evident. Those parkas, pack boots and chatter all hail from north of 60, and while you can expect to hear the regular fare as you traipse through the litter of seats to the window - the work, the kids, the roads and so on, you’re just as likely to hear about wood piles, snow plows, dog teams, and Harry’s recent bone-headed plunge through the overflow on Atlin Lake. Still, we’re all headed north, so that’s to be expected.
A southbound flight from Whitehorse has its own character. There’s always that sense of excitement in the cabin. After all, everybody is heading ‘Outside,’ heading to the big city. And, after several months of winter, that can be a good thing. That same cabin on the return flight, however, is filled with something very different - a palpable sense of relief. And that’s what I’m feeling this morning along with, I suspect, many of my fellow passengers as I sit waiting to board - the relief of feeling that I am already part-way home.
Now a lot of this has to do with the fact that the North is a magic castle for many of us. I could wax eloquent on why that’s the case, but any northerner knows exactly what I’m talking about. Besides, this is not about location, it’s about our favourite form of transportation to and from this little kingdom of ours: Air North.
Air North came into being in 1977, the very same year I arrived in the Yukon. Founded by Joe Sparling and Tom Wood, the company started out with four small aircraft: a Cessna 150, a Cessna 206, a Cessna 172 and a Piper Apache. They served the North hauling freight, fuel, passengers and whatever else needed transporting for 25 years, building up their fleet in the process - a fleet that included several of those famous workhorses of the North - the DC3s. Eventually they bought their first jet - a Boeing 737 - and expanded their service to include Vancouver. The rest is history.
"So what," you say, "this is the story of many airlines. What makes Air North different?" Well, accompany me on this short two-hour-and-15-minute flight and you’ll see.
While I usually try to fly light, today I happen to have two boxes of books that need to be checked. Now normally, I would be fuming over the exorbitant fee charged for this privilege, but not today. On Air North every passenger is allowed two pieces of checked baggage free of charge. I guess the airline just thought that the whole business of charging for checked items was a poor way to treat its customers.
Now it’s time to board, and I step up early because ... well ... I have my Martin guitar in a soft case and I’d really like to stick it in an overhead if at all possible. Today, as it turns out, that’s not a problem and nobody raises a fuss. Then again this is Air North and ... well, you get the idea.
I’m welcomed on board by David, a familiar face to anybody regularly flying this route, and one of the most cheerful flight attendants north of anywhere. His partners, Claire and Kim, are also quite the cheery pair, making me think that these guys actually love working for the airline.
But now we’re loaded, strapped in and roaring down the runway. As the wheels come up, we bank sharply to soar over Howe Sound on our climb to cruising altitude. Shortly after the seat belt sign chimes, the in-flight service begins, starting with the standard beverages. Then, to the great surprise of anyone taking their first Air North flight, lunch is served. That’s right ... lunch ... on a two-hour-and-15-minute flight - not that lousy bag of peanuts served on those other airlines, no sir ... a real lunch. Today we have the choice of bison sausage or ham on our fruit and cheese plate. Bison by gum. Only in the Yukon and only on Air North. What can I say?
Dining and drinks over with, we continue to cruise through some of the most spectacular country on the planet until it’s time to begin our descent into Whitehorse. But before our flight attendants can return to their seats, they have one last job to do. Just in case we weren’t feeling special enough, they make a final trip through the cabin to hand out big, warm, chocolate chip cookies.
Now ... you can easily stick what I know about business up a hummingbird’s arse, but I do know one thing. When Air North, like every other airline, found itself facing the rapidly rising cost of fuel and myriad of other expenses that were currently plaguing the airline industry, their solution was to take the high road. While every other company raised fares, started charging for baggage, carry-on, meals, and slimmed down their customer service, Air North chose to focus on its passengers and employees.
They lowered fares so we could fly more frequently, maintained their baggage policy and continued to provide on-board meals while keeping up the best customer service in the industry. It was a bold move, particularly in the face of severe competition with major airlines who were capitalized up the yin yang. But it won the hearts of all Yukoners. It’s a telling tale that many of Air North’s passengers have chosen to be shareholders in the company.
Air North is a Yukon airline. Whenever possible, it hires locally, contracts locally, buys its supplies locally and treats its customers and employees alike with grace and respect. And while there are now hundreds of people involved in this operation, in the end, it all comes down to one man: Joe Sparling. That being the case, I’m pretty sure I speak for every Northerner when I say, thanks for everything, Joe.
Paul Lucas
Atlin
