Air Saguenay
Air Saguenay was a Canadian bush airline that provided regional, seaplane, charter, and remote-camp air services across northern Quebec and adjacent areas.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Air Saguenay was a Canadian regional and bush airline associated with Jonquière in Quebec's Saguenay region. Its business was built around small-aircraft operations in areas where road and scheduled commercial-airline infrastructure was limited. The carrier served remote communities, industrial customers, fishing and hunting operators, tourism businesses, and forest-fire patrol activities. A substantial part of its operating model involved seaplanes and water aerodromes, allowing it to reach northern lakes, camps, outfitters, and destinations that were not conveniently connected to the provincial road network. The company's roots went back to Saguenay Air Service, a carrier based at Kenogami Lake and associated with the Saguenay Aero Club. In the early 1960s, mink breeder Peter Schoch acquired the operation and developed Lac Sébastien Water Aerodrome at Saint-David-de-Falardeau. The new base was intended to improve service for industrial companies such as Alcan and Price Brothers, as well as for fishermen, hunters, and forest-fire surveillance. In 1969, Saguenay Air Service merged with Gagnon Air Service, creating the Air Saguenay organization identified with the later brand. Ownership under Jean-Claude Tremblay from 1980 marked a period of expansion. The company opened another water base at Chutes-des-Passes/Lac Margane in 1982, bought Air Caribou in Fermont and Club Chambeaux outfitters in 1984, and added a Schefferville seaplane base in 1986. These moves extended its reach toward fishing, moose-hunting, caribou-hunting, and other wilderness destinations in northern Quebec. During the 1990s and 2000s, Air Saguenay continued consolidating smaller operators, including Expeditair, Grand Island Aviation, Aéro Golfe, Labrador Air Safari, Ashuanipi Aviation, and Deraps Aviation. Air Saguenay operated from several remote water aerodromes, including Lac Pau near Caniapiscau and Sept-Îles/Lac Rapides, and became one of eastern Canada's notable bush carriers. Its network was not comparable to that of a large scheduled airline: service was oriented toward specialized routes, charter demand, industrial access, tourism, and remote lodges rather than high-frequency trunk travel. The airline's later years were affected by operational and commercial difficulties. The end of caribou hunting in Quebec reduced an important source of demand, while a lawsuit followed a fatal 2019 floatplane accident. Air Saguenay ceased operations in November 2019. Transport Canada records later listed aircraft associated with the company, although only a small number retained operating certificates by December 2020. The brand is therefore a defunct Canadian regional-airline and bush-aviation operator.
History
Air Saguenay developed from a small aviation operation serving Quebec's Saguenay and northern regions. Its predecessor, Saguenay Air Service, operated from Kenogami Lake under the Saguenay Aero Club and was used in part for pilot training. In the early 1960s, Peter Schoch, a mink breeder, acquired the carrier and sought to improve its commercial usefulness by establishing Lac Sébastien Water Aerodrome at Saint-David-de-Falardeau. The location enabled better access for industrial customers, including Alcan and Price Brothers, while also supporting fishermen, hunters, and forest-fire patrols. In 1969, Saguenay Air Service merged with Gagnon Air Service to form the Air Saguenay company. The resulting operator specialized in bush flying and used small aircraft, including floatplanes, to reach northern communities, wilderness camps, outfitters, and other destinations with limited surface transportation. Its customer base combined local and industrial transportation with tourism, fishing, hunting, and lodge logistics. Jean-Claude Tremblay became owner in 1980 and pursued a broader regional strategy. Air Saguenay opened the Chutes-des-Passes/Lac Margane Water Aerodrome in 1982, positioning the company closer to fishing and moose-hunting territory. In 1984 it acquired Air Caribou in Fermont and Club Chambeaux outfitters, giving the business access to additional fishing and caribou-hunting areas. A Schefferville water base followed in 1986. These facilities allowed the airline to extend its operating footprint northward rather than relying only on conventional airport infrastructure. During the 1990s and 2000s, Air Saguenay expanded through a series of acquisitions and integrations involving smaller bush operators. The recorded transactions included Expeditair in 1999, Grand Island Aviation in 2000, Aéro Golfe in 2001, Labrador Air Safari in 2006, Ashuanipi Aviation in 2006, and Deraps Aviation in 2011. Under Jean-Claude Tremblay and his son Jean Tremblay, Air Saguenay became an important bush carrier in eastern Canada. It also operated or served water aerodromes at Lac Pau near Caniapiscau and Sept-Îles/Lac Rapides. The airline's operating model depended heavily on specialized northern demand. Hunting and fishing travel, transportation to remote lodges, industrial access, and charter flying were more important to it than dense scheduled passenger traffic. This made the business valuable to isolated destinations but also exposed it to changes in regulation, resource activity, tourism, and outdoor recreation. The end of caribou hunting in Quebec was identified as one of the challenges affecting the company in its final period. Air Saguenay was involved in three fatal floatplane accidents recorded in the reference material. A 2010 DHC-2 Beaver crash west of Lake Péribonca killed four people. A 2015 sightseeing-flight crash near Les Bergeronnes killed all seven people aboard. In July 2019, another DHC-2 Beaver crashed in Labrador while traveling between remote fishing and camp locations; all seven occupants ultimately died. The 2019 accident was followed by legal action and contributed to the airline's closure. Air Saguenay ceased operations in November 2019. Transport Canada records in December 2020 still listed 16 aircraft associated with the company, but only two had operating certificates. Air Saguenay is consequently classified as a defunct Canadian regional and bush-airline brand.
- 2019
Operations cease
[1]Air Saguenay stopped operating in November after commercial challenges and the aftermath of a fatal July floatplane crash.
- 2011
Deraps Aviation acquired
[1]The acquisition strengthened Air Saguenay's presence on and around the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River.
- 2006
Labrador Air Safari and Ashuanipi Aviation became part of the expansion program.
[1]Air Saguenay acquired or incorporated two additional northern aviation businesses, extending its regional operating platform.
- 2001
Aéro Golfe acquired
[1]The acquisition further broadened the company's eastern Canadian bush-aviation presence.
- 2000
Grand Island Aviation acquired
[1]Air Saguenay expanded its group of affiliated aviation operations through the acquisition of Grand Island Aviation.
- 1999
Expeditair acquired
[1]The company continued its consolidation of smaller regional and bush-aviation operators.
- 1986
Schefferville base added
[1]Air Saguenay added a seaplane base in Schefferville, strengthening its northern Quebec coverage.
- 1984
Air Caribou and Club Chambeaux acquired
[1]The acquisitions expanded Air Saguenay's access to northern fishing and caribou-hunting territory.
- 1982
Chutes-des-Passes water base opens
[1]The company opened a second strategic seaplane base at Chutes-des-Passes/Lac Margane.
- 1980
Jean-Claude Tremblay becomes owner
[1]Jean-Claude Tremblay took ownership and began a major period of service and geographic expansion.
Products and positioning
A specialized northern bush-airline operator focused on seaplane access, regional connectivity, charter transportation, and remote wilderness logistics.
Passenger aviation
Regional bush-airline services
Air Saguenay provided small-aircraft transportation across northern Quebec and adjacent eastern Canadian regions. These services connected remote communities, work sites, lakes, camps, and destinations that were difficult to reach by road or conventional scheduled-airline networks. The service pattern was regional and specialized rather than a high-frequency urban passenger operation.
Seaplane operations
Seaplane transportation
Water-based aviation was central to Air Saguenay's operating model. The company developed and used several water aerodromes, including Lac Sébastien, Chutes-des-Passes/Lac Margane, Lac Pau, and Sept-Îles/Lac Rapides. Floatplanes enabled direct access to remote lakes, fishing lodges, hunting camps, and wilderness destinations without conventional runways.
Charter aviation
Charter and lodge transportation
Air Saguenay supported tourism, hunting, fishing, and access to remote camps through demand-based flights. Its operations served outfitters and lodges as well as individual or group travel requiring direct access to northern wilderness areas.
Aviation support services
Industrial and specialized aviation support
The airline's early customer base included industrial companies, and its aircraft were also used for specialized activities such as forest-fire patrol. This work complemented passenger and charter activity and reflected the broader role of bush operators in northern resource and public-safety logistics.
Controversies
2019
Fatal Labrador crash and legal aftermath
A DHC-2 Beaver crashed while traveling between remote fishing and camp locations in Labrador, killing all seven occupants. A lawsuit followed, and the event was among the challenges associated with Air Saguenay's subsequent closure.
2015
Fatal Les Bergeronnes sightseeing crash
A company floatplane crashed shortly after departing Long Lake on a sightseeing flight near Les Bergeronnes. All seven people aboard were killed.
2010
Fatal Lake Péribonca-area crash
An Air Saguenay DHC-2 Beaver crashed into a wooded mountainside after encountering adverse weather. Four of the six occupants died.
Brand decisions
2019
Cease airline operationsStrategyBackground
The company faced declining demand connected with the end of caribou hunting in Quebec and legal consequences following a fatal floatplane accident.
Action taken
Air Saguenay stopped operating in November 2019.
Aftermath
The Air Saguenay brand became defunct, although aircraft associated with the company remained identifiable in later Transport Canada records.
1980
Expand the northern bush-aviation platformStrategyBackground
Under new owner Jean-Claude Tremblay, Air Saguenay sought to improve service quality and extend its reach into northern Quebec.
Action taken
The company opened additional water bases and acquired smaller operators and outfitting businesses serving remote fishing, hunting, industrial, and tourism markets.
Aftermath
Air Saguenay became an important bush carrier in eastern Canada with a wider network of bases and affiliated operators.
Sources1 sources
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