Northwestern Air Lease

A British Aerospace Jetstream at Edmonton International Airport
IATA ICAO Callsign J3 PLR[1] POLARIS[1]
Founded	1965
AOC #	271[2]
Fleet size	14[3][4]
Destinations	6[5]
Headquarters	Fort Smith, Northwest Territories
Key people	Terry Harrold (President) Brian Harrold (Vice-President) Debbie Payne (Director of Finance)
Website	https://www.nwal.ca/

Northwestern Air is an airline based in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, Canada. It operates scheduled passenger services to seven destinations in two territories/provinces,^[5] as well as undertaking ad hoc charters and long-term charter contracts for various corporations throughout Canada and the United States.

Its main base is Fort Smith Airport.

History

The airline was established in 1965 as a leasing company and started flying operations in 1968. It expanded to operate scheduled passenger services in 1984. It is wholly owned by the Harrold family and had more than 70 employees in September 2018.^[6]

Destinations

As of January 2024, the airline serves the following locations:^[5]

Fleet

As of January 2024, the Northwestern Air fleet includes fourteen aircraft registered with Transport Canada and ten listed at the Northwestern Air web site:^[3][4]

Previously operated include:^[7]

• Piper Aerostar
• Beechcraft Queen Air
• Beechcraft Baron
• Beechcraft Model 99
• Cessna 150
• Cessna 172
• Cessna 208
• Cessna 310
• Cessna Skymaster
• Cessna 401 and 402
• de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver
• de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter
• North American B-25 Mitchell
• Piper PA-16 Clipper
• Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner

Accidents and Incidents

• On 23 January 2024, a Northwestern Air British Aerospace Jetstream crashed shortly after takeoff from Fort Smith Airport, killing six people and injuring one. The British Aerospace Jetstream was a charter to Diavik Airport at the Diavik Diamond Mine.^[8][9]