Island Express Air
 | |||||||
| |||||||
| Founded | 2009 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceased operations | 2020 | ||||||
| AOC # | 19080[1] | ||||||
| Hubs | Abbotsford International Airport | ||||||
| Focus cities | Victoria, Nanaimo | ||||||
| Fleet size | 11[2] | ||||||
| Destinations | 6[3] | ||||||
| Parent company | Shorebird Enterprises | ||||||
| Headquarters | Abbotsford, British Columbia | ||||||
| Key people | Jim Young | ||||||
| Website | www | ||||||
Island Express Air was a small Canadian airline based in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Its first flight was on August 7, 2009 as part of the Abbotsford International Airshow.[4] It operated scheduled air service between the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, as well as charter flights and cargo service. On February 23, 2018, one of their B100 King Air's crashed at Abbotsford Airport (CYXX) immediately after take-off in blizzard conditions.[5] As a result of this accident, and due to public safety concerns, Transport Canada suspended Island Express' Air Operator's Certificate(AOC) shortly thereafter, on February 28, 2018.[6] However, following a robust review of the company's safety procedures the operating certificate was reinstated on June 26, 2018.[7] The company slogan was Your Island Connection. In 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Island Express Air had ceased operations and sold its assets to a group of investors.[8]
Destinations
All destinations as of August 2019 were within British Columbia:[3]
- Abbotsford (Abbotsford International Airport)
- Nanaimo (Nanaimo Airport)
- Qualicum Beach (Qualicum Beach Airport)
- Seasonal: Tofino (Tofino/Long Beach Airport)
- Vancouver (Vancouver International Airport)
- Victoria (Victoria International Airport)
Fleet
Fleet as of August 2019:[2]
| Aircraft | No. of aircraft |
Variants | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beechcraft King Air | 1 | 100 series | |
| Piper PA-28 Cherokee | 1 | PA-28-151 Cherokee Warrior | |
| Piper PA-31 Navajo | 6 | PA-31-325 Navajo, PA-31-350 Chieftain | |
| Piper PA-32 | 1 | PA-32-301 Saratoga |
See also
History of aviation in Canada List of defunct airlines of Canada
References
- ^ Transport Canada (2019-09-01), Civil Aviation Services (CAS) AOC. wwwapps.tc.gc.ca.
- ^ a b "Canadian Civil Aircraft Register: Quick Search Result for Island Express Air". Transport Canada. Retrieved 2019-08-24.
- ^ a b "Island Express Air Routes & Schedules". Retrieved 2019-08-24.
- ^ Tucker, Cam (7 August 2009). "Island Express ready to lighten travel load". Abbotsford Times. p. 12.
- ^ "UPDATED: Abbotsford airline grounded after YXX accident was fined $30,000 last year - Abbotsford News". Abbotsford News. 2018-02-28. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
- ^ Canada, Transport (2018-02-28). "Transport Canada suspends Island Express Air's Air Operator Certificate - Canada.ca". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
- ^ "Transport Canada reinstates Island Express Air for operations following February crash". CHEK. 2018-06-26. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
- ^ https://www.vancouverislandfreedaily.com/business/covid-19-new-air-carrier-sought-for-qualicum-beach-airport/
