History

History

The Beginnings 1997-2011

North Star Air(NSA) took flight in 1997 when 3 young adventurous entrepreneurs, Bernie Cox, Lynn Cox, and John Stout, acquired two single engine De Havilland Beavers on floats. In cooperation with their sister company Canoe Frontier,  NSA began flying canoeists and fishermen into Ontario's last frontier north of Pickle Lake. The addition of a DHC-3 Turbo-Otter and a Cessna Caravan, both on amphib floats, soon followed as the demand for airlift began to grow. By 2001, having relocated operations to the Pickle Lake Airport from its water base, North Star had expanded to year-round activity. In 2005, Mr. Stout purchased a Pilatus PC-12 from Frank Kelner's Pilatus Center at the Thunder Bay Airport. This acquisition enabled another startup named Canada Direct, which, in cooperation with NSA, focused on charters for fishermen who wished to fly directly from the U.S. into their Canadian lodge of choice. More importantly, it was the start of a professional relationship between Mr.  Kelner and Mr. Stout that, 7 years later, would change the course of NSA forever. By 2006, a Cessna Grand Caravan was added to the fleet to keep pace with rising cargo demand, setting the stage for a hybrid passenger-freight operation that would underpin the airline's next era.

Growing Years 2012-2016

In 2012, veteran aviator and airline builder Frank Kelner partnered with Mr. Stout and NSA with a vision of redefining how to move cargo with greater reliability and more cost efficiency. Considered a bold move at the time, Mr.  Kelner and Mr. Stout launched a separate dedicated cargo carrier, Cargo North, relying on a pair of Basler BT-67s dedicated to high-frequency short-haul freight and fuel deliveries. In short order, the Basler decision proved to be a game changer in the North.

It was during this period when the first revenue-sharing agreements with Muskrat Dam and Sachigo Lake (2013) were established. More Community agreements would soon follow, firmly establishing NSA and Cargo North as the new NW Ontario airline of choice. It was at this time that the company introduced its FlexFlightPassenger Flights, a first-of-its-kind service that offered the regularity of a scheduled service, while adapting to the needs of the northern communities by amending routings as required to facilitate inter-community travel and ensure seat availability. As NSA continued to expand, they shifted their headquarters to Thunder Bay and soon after opened a new base in Red Lake(2014). The final move came in 2016 when NSA and Cargo North merged into a single, fully integrated northern airline. 2017 saw North Star Air become one of Ontario's fastest growing airlines.

NWC Acquisition 2017-2024

In June 2017, The North West Company acquired North Star Air, unlocking the capital needed for larger Dash 8-100/300 passenger aircraft, ATR 72-500 freighters, and a new Thompson, MB base. With the acquisition,  NSA also initiated service into Northern Manitoba and Nunavut, further connecting and introducing competition into 23 new communities.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, NSA was a leader in ensuring the vital lifeline to non-road access communities was maintained, continuing essential passenger flights while ensuring cargo services increased with the higher demands for timely food and medical supply deliveries. Additionally, NSA became the first airline in Canada to introduce complimentary COVID-19 screening for all passengers, playing a role in keeping COVID out of the north.

Keep Climbing 2025 & Beyond

Today North Star Air's growing fleet connects more than 54 remote communities, employs over 300 people, and has returned $12 million to its 12 First Nation partners. North Star Air has begun an exciting new chapter with the move into a new Thunder Bay Headquarters. This 37,000 sq ft consolidated hub will centralize its passenger, cargo, and maintenance operations, in turn greatly increasing operational efficiency. This state-of-the-art aviation facility features Its very own passenger terminal, short and long-term parking, and an enhanced cold chain with large drive-in coolers and freezers in the new cargo facility, greatly increasing the capability to provide critical food and medical supplies to partner communities.  The new headquarters facility reinforces North Star Air's commitment to the communities it serves and to safe, reliable northern aviation for decades to come.

North Star Air is the recipient of the 2019 Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce Large Business Excellence Award and the 2019 NOBA Company of the Year (51+) Award. North Star Air is a BARS Gold certified air carrier, a testament to the airline's safety culture and unwavering dedication to providing safe, affordable, and reliable air service.