Starlink Aviation

Starlink Aviation is a Canadian aviation-services company operating as both a charter airline and a fixed-base operator (FBO). Its base is at Montréal–Trudeau International Airport in Dorval, Quebec, where it provides an operational home for private and corporate aviation activity. The company’s history reaches back to 1981, when it was established as Avionair at what was then known as Dorval International Airport. It adopted the Starlink Aviation name in 1999. The business developed beyond ground handling and airport-base operations by acquiring and operating a range of turboprop and jet aircraft. These aircraft were used for charter activity and were also leased as private aircraft to clients. Its fleet history has included business aircraft and regional types such as Beechcraft King Air and Super King Air aircraft, Beechcraft 1900s, British Aerospace Jetstream aircraft, Cessna Citation aircraft, Dassault Falcon 900s, Embraer EMB 120 Brasilias, Learjet 60s, Piaggio P.180 Avantis and other turboprop and jet models. As of December 2024, Transport Canada records listed 19 aircraft registered to Starlink Aviation, although the available reference material does not identify the complete current fleet composition. Starlink also experimented with scheduled regional and corporate air services. In 2003 it introduced a corporate-shuttle operation from Montréal using BAe Jetstream 31 aircraft, serving Alma and La Baie, also known as Bagotville, in Quebec. The Alma service was later discontinued in 2009, while the La Baie service ended in 2013. These routes complemented the company’s charter and private-aircraft activities but did not become a permanent scheduled network. In April 2008, Starlink announced a partnership with the United States fractional-aircraft provider Flight Options. The arrangement created Flight Options Canada and was intended to extend the companies’ charter and fractional-aviation networks. The partnership reflected Starlink’s effort to connect its Canadian operating platform with a larger North American business-aviation system. Starlink also announced a short-lived cross-border scheduled service in 2009. Starlink Airlines began linking Yarmouth and Halifax in Nova Scotia with Portland, Maine, with two daily flights planned from February 4, 2009. The service ceased on December 1 of the same year after the Air Service Fund supporting the operation was depleted. The company’s positioning is therefore centered on flexible business and private aviation rather than mass-market scheduled travel. Its activities span FBO operations, aircraft charter, private-aircraft leasing, corporate shuttles and selected regional services. The acquisition of Canada’s first Pilatus PC-24 further associated the company with modern light-jet business aviation, although the available reference material does not provide the acquisition date or additional commercial terms. Starlink Aviation remains distinct from the unrelated satellite-internet brand using the Starlink name.

Starlink Aviation was established in 1981 as Avionair, a fixed-base operator at Dorval International Airport in Quebec. The airport was later renamed Montréal–Trudeau International Airport, and the company continues to be based there in Dorval. In 1999, Avionair adopted the Starlink Aviation name, marking the identity under which it became associated with Canadian charter and business aviation. Following its creation, the company expanded from airport-based services into aircraft operations. It acquired turboprop and jet aircraft and used them for charter work and private-aircraft leasing. Its historical fleet included a broad selection of regional aircraft and business aircraft, including Beechcraft King Air and Super King Air models, Beechcraft 1900s, Boeing 737 equipment, British Aerospace Jetstream aircraft, Cessna 208 Caravans, Cessna Citation I aircraft, Dassault Falcon 900s, Embraer EMB 120 Brasilias, Embraer EMB 500s, Hawker Siddeley HS-125s, Learjet 60s, Piaggio P.180 Avantis and Swearingen Merlin aircraft. This range indicates that the company has served both specialized charter requirements and smaller regional transport missions over time. In 2003, Starlink added a scheduled corporate-shuttle operation from Montréal to Alma and La Baie, or Bagotville, in Quebec. The services used BAe Jetstream 31 aircraft. The Alma route was discontinued in 2009, while the La Baie route continued longer and ended in 2013. The scheduled operations were a limited part of the company’s broader business-aviation model, which remained focused on chartering, leasing and airport services. The company pursued a wider North American network in April 2008 by announcing a partnership with Flight Options, a U.S. fractional-jet company. The proposed Flight Options Canada operation was designed to combine or extend the partners’ charter and fractional-ownership networks. In January 2009, Starlink announced another scheduled initiative under the Starlink Airlines name: a service between Yarmouth and Halifax in Nova Scotia and Portland, Maine. Two daily flights were planned from February 4. The route ceased on December 1, 2009, when the Air Service Fund used to support it was depleted. Starlink’s aircraft activities continued to include modern business aviation. The company acquired Canada’s first Pilatus PC-24, a light business jet designed for flexible operation, including use from airports with shorter or less conventional runways. The available reference does not specify the date or financial terms of that acquisition. Transport Canada registration information cited in December 2024 listed 19 aircraft registered to Starlink Aviation, but the available material does not supply a complete current aircraft-by-aircraft list. Today, the brand is best understood as a Canadian business-aviation operator rather than a conventional large scheduled airline. Its identity combines FBO services at Montréal–Trudeau, private and corporate charter, aircraft leasing and a history of regional and cross-border scheduled experiments. Its fleet development and specialized operating model place it within the flexible aviation-services sector.

1. 2024Transport Canada register lists 19 aircraft

   The company is reported as having 19 aircraft registered with Transport Canada as of December 2024.

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2. 2009Yarmouth–Halifax–Portland service launches

   Starlink Airlines begins a planned twice-daily service linking Nova Scotia with Portland, Maine.

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3. 2008Flight Options Canada partnership announced

   Starlink partners with Flight Options to expand charter and fractional-aviation networks in Canada and the United States.

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4. 2003Corporate shuttle service begins

   Starlink starts scheduled corporate-shuttle flights from Montréal to Alma and La Baie using BAe Jetstream 31 aircraft.

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5. 1999Company renamed Starlink Aviation

   Avionair adopts the Starlink Aviation name.

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6. 1981Avionair is established

   The company begins operations as Avionair, a fixed-base operator at Dorval International Airport in Quebec.

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A Canadian business-aviation provider combining fixed-base operations with private charter, aircraft leasing and selective regional air services.

• Fixed-base operator servicesAirport and ground services1981

  Starlink Aviation’s original and continuing business is its FBO operation at Montréal–Trudeau International Airport. An FBO supports private and corporate aviation activity at an airport, providing an operating base and associated aircraft and passenger services. The available material identifies the company as an FBO but does not enumerate every service included in its current offering.

• Private and corporate aircraft charterAir charter

  The company operates turboprop and jet aircraft for private and corporate charter missions. Its historical fleet included both regional aircraft and business jets, allowing it to serve different passenger and range requirements. Specific current routes, cabin configurations and charter pricing are not identified in the available source material.

• Private-aircraft leasingAircraft leasing

  Starlink has leased aircraft to private clients as part of its business-aviation activities. The leasing model complemented charter operations by making company-operated aircraft available for private use. The available sources do not provide lease structures, customer names or financial details.

• Corporate shuttle servicesScheduled regional aviation2003

  From 2003, Starlink operated a corporate-shuttle service from Montréal to Alma and La Baie in Quebec with BAe Jetstream 31 aircraft. The Alma operation ended in 2009 and the La Baie operation ended in 2013, so these specific services are no longer active.

• Pilatus PC-24 operationBusiness aviation

  Starlink acquired Canada’s first Pilatus PC-24, linking the company with a newer generation of light business jets. The PC-24 is designed for flexible business-aviation use, but the available reference does not state the acquisition date, aircraft registration or current deployment.

• 2009Launch of Yarmouth–Halifax–Portland routeProduct launch

  Starlink pursued a scheduled cross-border service connecting communities in Nova Scotia with Portland, Maine.

  What changed. Starlink Airlines announced two daily flights beginning February 4, 2009.

  Aftermath. The service ended on December 1, 2009, after the Air Service Fund supporting it was depleted.

  Source
• 2008Creation of Flight Options Canada partnershipStrategy

  Starlink sought to extend its Canadian charter platform through cooperation with Flight Options, a U.S. fractional-jet provider.

  What changed. The companies announced a partnership to form Flight Options Canada and expand their charter and fractional-aviation networks.

  Aftermath. The available sources describe the announcement but do not provide detailed subsequent operating or financial results.

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• 2009Starlink Airlines launches Yarmouth–Halifax–Portland service

  The company announced a twice-daily scheduled service connecting Yarmouth and Halifax in Nova Scotia with Portland, Maine, beginning February 4, 2009.

  Product launch
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• 2009Yarmouth–Halifax–Portland service ends

  The cross-border service ended on December 1 after the Air Service Fund supporting it was depleted.

  Other
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• 2008Starlink Aviation announces Flight Options Canada partnership

  Starlink announced a partnership with U.S. fractional-jet company Flight Options to create Flight Options Canada and broaden the companies’ charter and fractional-aviation networks.

  M&AOther
  Source

1. Starlink Aviation
2. Starlink Aviation official website