Yukon’s Air North is putting passengers first with thoughtful inclusions

Kateryna Topol — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 02:37:28 +0000

Founded in 1977 by pilot Joe Sparling and Tom “Ace” Wood, Air North has carried over four million passengers across Canada. What began as a private charter service grew into a full passenger airline connecting the Yukon to destinations to the world. Today, Air North is owned and operated by Joe Sparling and the Vuntut Development Corporation (VDC), the economic arm of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, and employs over 600 people.

Where does Air North fly?

Air North flies to 12 destinations across Canada, including major cities and Yukon’s northernmost communities. Recent interline agreements with WestJet and China Airlines extend connectivity to major global destinations, allowing passengers to book a single ticket, with end-to-end baggage handling, to cities like Yellowknife from faraway destinations. The airline team is quite proud of their standards for efficiency, shared Maria Kostaras, Director of Communications and Marketing. Air North operates on time, and the only delays they might experience are weather-related.

Some routes are seasonal: summer and fall flights bring travellers to the Northwest Territories for the midnight sun and vivid autumn colours, while winter routes serve family travel and Northern Lights tourism, viewable directly from your window seat.

Images courtesy of Air North.

Comfortable seating at no extra cost

Air North’s standard cabin features a three-three seat configuration with a generous 32-inch seat pitch. For comparison, Air Canada Rouge, for example, is 29” while WestJet’s recent controversial and brief update was to 28”. All Air North seats recline and have plenty of under-seat storage.

Simple, transparent fares, no surge pricing

Air North offers only two fare classes: GoYukon and Optimum. Both are straightforward, with no surge pricing, making last-minute bookings and advance planning equally stress-free. The main differences lie in change and cancellation fees; Optimum also includes standard seat selection.

What’s included on every Air North flight?

One of Air North’s most distinctive qualities is its all-inclusive approach to travel. Regardless of fare class or route, every passenger receives:

Complimentary carry-on baggage
Two complimentary checked bags
A complimentary meal and a warm cookie
Complimentary beverages, including tea, Midnight Sun Coffee Roasters coffee, soft drinks, and juice

“The ownership group’s motto is to make travel affordable,” Kostaras shared, “so we have all these perks included on all routes”.

Images courtesy of Air North.

Fresh, locally sourced in-flight meals

Air North’s on-board menu is created by Michael Bock, who also operates Black Wolf Bistro at Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport. Meals are prepared fresh daily by the Whitehorse-based Flight Kitchen team, using Yukon-inspired recipes and locally sourced ingredients. Longer routes, such as Yellowknife to Toronto, include hot meals like bison shepherd’s pie or a full hot breakfast. The beverage selection also leans regional, featuring beer from the Northwest Territories among other local options.

Air North vacation packages: Northern Lights & More

Beyond scheduled routes, Air North offers a curated selection of vacation packages through Air North Getaways. A standout option is the Aurora 360 Flight Special, a five-day Northern Lights experience that includes a 360-degree flight to the Arctic Circle. Passengers split their time between the Northern Lights Resort & Spa and the Gold Rush Inn in Whitehorse. It’s one of the most immersive ways to see the Aurora Borealis in Canada.

Air North flight attendant with warm cookies and founder Joe Sparling. Images courtesy of Air North.

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