Hawkair

Infobox Airline
airline =Hawkair
logo =HawkairLogo.gif
logo_size =390
fleet_size =4
destinations =5
IATA =BH
ICAO =-
callsign =-
parent =
founded =1994
headquarters =Terrace, British Columbia
key_people =Rodney Hayward, CEO
Thomas Beshr, General Manager
hubs =Terrace Airport
Vancouver International Airport
focus_cities =Prince Rupert, Smithers
website =http://www.hawkair.ca|

Hawkair (Hawkair Aviation Services) is a regional airline based in Terrace, British Columbia, Canada. It operates scheduled and charter regional passenger services in British Columbia and Alberta. Its main base is Terrace Airport with a hub at Vancouver International Airport.cite news | title= Directory: World Airlines | work= Flight International | page= 90 | date= 2007-04-03]

History

Hawkair Aviation Services was established and started operations in 1994 as an air freight service operating out of Terrace. [http://www.hawkair.ca/index.php?p=history Hawkair history] ] In 2000 they started air passenger services, initially between Vancouver and Terrace. They quickly expanded to serve most of the airports of northern British Columbia. In October 2005 they were forced to file for protection under the Company Creditors' Arrangement Act (Bankruptcy protection), and have reduced the number of aircraft in their fleet from 5 to 3 without a significant reduction in service to the current airports they serve.

The first plane they owned was a Bristol Freighter. In 2004, this plane took its last flight to an air museum in Wetaskiwin, Alberta. This was the last flight flown by a Bristol Freighter.

In April 2007, Hawkair announced that they would be resuming service to Smithers on May 21 2007. The service will run 11 times per week to/from Vancouver. Also announced was a service to Bob Quinn Lake operating three times per week. The route is dubbed the miners express, as this route will be dedicated to serving the miners working in the area. The flight will originate in Vancouver, landing in Smithers and then on to Bob Quinn Lake. The plane then turns back to Smithers and then on to Vancouver.

Destinations

Hawkair operates scheduled services to the following destinations [http://www.hawkair.ca/images/specials-map.jpgHawkair route map] ] in British Columbia from the South Terminal of Vancouver International Airport:

*Prince Rupert
*Smithers
*Terrace
*Bob Quinn Lake

In the past the following destinations were also served:

*Dawson Creek, B.C.
*Fort Nelson, B.C.
*Fort St. John, B.C.
*Prince George, B.C.
*Sandspit, B.C.
*Victoria, B.C.
*Calgary, Alberta (from Fort St. John)
*Grande Prairie, Alberta

Fleet

After adding a Dash 8-300 in September 2008, the Hawkair fleet includes [http://www.hawkair.ca/index.php?p=fleet Hawkair fleet] ] :

* 3 Bombardier Dash 8-100
* 1 Bombardier Dash 8-300
* 1 King Air 200

Previously operated

The Hawkair fleet previously included [Flight International, 3-9 October 2006] :
*1 Fairchild Metro II
*1 Fairchild Merlin IV

References