Summit Air

Summit Air is a Canadian regional aviation company headquartered in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Operating under the legal entity 8199400 Canada Inc., the airline serves remote and regional communities through a combination of scheduled passenger flights, charter operations, cargo transportation and specialized aviation contracts. Its principal geographic focus is northern Canada, including the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon, while its broader operating footprint extends across much of western Canada. The company began in Atlin, British Columbia, in 1987. Its operating base moved to Yellowknife in January 2001, positioning Summit closer to the northern communities and industrial customers that form an important part of its market. The airline operates from bases in several western Canadian locations, including Yellowknife and Norman Wells in the Northwest Territories; Terrace, Lillooet and Kamloops in British Columbia; and Fort McMurray, Edmonton and Calgary in Alberta. Summit Air's business model combines passenger connectivity with aircraft chartering and cargo logistics. This mix is suited to northern aviation markets, where low population density, long distances, limited road infrastructure and seasonal access constraints create demand for flexible air services. In addition to scheduled operations, Summit supports corporate, community and industrial customers through charter flying and freight movement. The airline has developed partnerships and affiliated operating relationships with a number of organizations and regional entities. These include the Haisla Nation through Summit Kitamaat Aviation Limited Partnership, Air Baffin through Summit Air Baffin, the Det'on Cho Corporation through Det'on Cho Summit Aviation LP, and businesses serving the Kitikmeot Region through Summit Air Kitikmeot. These arrangements extend Summit's reach while connecting the airline with local ownership, community and regional operating structures. Ledcor Group of Companies became a partner in Summit Air on June 1, 2009. In August 2012, Summit acquired Arctic Sunwest Charters, after which the acquired aircraft were rebranded under the Summit name. The airline subsequently expanded its aircraft capabilities. In January 2015, it acquired an Avro RJ85 jet operated on behalf of Canadian North for services linking Yellowknife and Edmonton. A second RJ85 was later ordered, and the fleet was further expanded with larger Avro RJ100 aircraft. Beyond Canada, Summit Air has operated in the United Kingdom for the Ministry of Defence and for the Royal Air Force's Falcon Demonstration Team, a parachute display team. This work illustrates the company's role not only as a regional passenger carrier but also as a provider of contract and specialized aviation services. Summit Air remains an active member of the Ledcor corporate group and continues to operate a diversified northern aviation business.

Summit Air was established in Atlin, British Columbia, in 1987. The company later shifted its operational base to Yellowknife in January 2001. This relocation placed the airline in a central position for serving northern Canadian communities and customers requiring air transport in regions with limited surface transportation. The airline expanded its corporate relationships when Ledcor Group of Companies became a partner on June 1, 2009. In August 2012, Summit acquired Arctic Sunwest Charters. Aircraft associated with the acquired business were subsequently brought under the Summit brand, increasing the scale and visibility of Summit's charter and regional aviation operations. Summit continued to broaden its aircraft capabilities during the 2010s. In January 2015, it acquired an Avro RJ85 that was operated for Canadian North on routes from Yellowknife and Edmonton. A further RJ85 was ordered later, and Summit added larger Avro RJ100 aircraft to its fleet. These aircraft supported the company's ability to conduct larger regional jet operations alongside its other passenger, charter and cargo activities. The company's operating model includes partnerships with communities, regional enterprises and affiliated aviation organizations. Summit Kitamaat Aviation Limited Partnership operates in partnership with the Haisla Nation. Other relationships include Summit Air Baffin with Air Baffin, Det'on Cho Summit Aviation LP with the Det'on Cho Corporation, and Summit Air Kitikmeot with businesses in the Kitikmeot Region. These arrangements reflect Summit's participation in locally connected northern aviation markets. Summit Air maintains its head office in Yellowknife and operates from bases across the Northwest Territories, British Columbia and Alberta. Its Canadian activity covers scheduled, charter and cargo aviation in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon and other parts of western Canada. The airline has also undertaken operations in the United Kingdom for the Ministry of Defence and the Royal Air Force's Falcon Demonstration Team. As a Ledcor group company, Summit Air remains an active diversified aviation operator rather than a purely scheduled passenger airline.

• 2015

  Avro regional jet expansion

  [1]Summit Airen.wikipedia.org

  Summit acquired an Avro RJ85 for Canadian North services and later expanded its regional jet fleet with another RJ85 and Avro RJ100 aircraft.

• 2012

  Arctic Sunwest Charters acquisition

  [1]Summit Airen.wikipedia.org

  Summit acquired Arctic Sunwest Charters and rebranded its aircraft as Summit aircraft.

• 2009

  Ledcor becomes a partner

  [1]Summit Airen.wikipedia.org

  Ledcor Group of Companies became a partner in Summit Air on June 1.

• 2001

  Operating base moves to Yellowknife

  [1]Summit Airen.wikipedia.org

  The company's base of operations was relocated to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.

• 1987

  Summit Air begins operations in Atlin

  [1]Summit Airen.wikipedia.org

  Summit Air was established in Atlin, British Columbia.

A flexible northern and western Canadian aviation operator combining scheduled regional flights with charter, cargo and specialized contract services.

• Passenger aviation

  Scheduled passenger services

  Summit Air operates scheduled passenger aviation serving northern and western Canadian markets. These services connect communities and regional centres in areas where distances are substantial and alternative ground transport can be limited. The company's fleet and operating bases allow it to combine community connectivity with broader contracted and regional flying.

• Aviation charter · 1987

  Charter services

  The airline provides passenger and aircraft charter services for communities, commercial customers and industrial organizations. Charter operations complement scheduled flying and allow Summit to tailor aircraft deployment, routing and capacity to customer requirements across remote Canadian regions and other contract markets.

• Air freight

  Cargo operations

  Summit Air transports cargo and freight as part of its northern aviation portfolio. Cargo operations support communities and organizations that depend on air transport because of sparse road networks, long distances and challenging access conditions. Freight flying is conducted alongside passenger and charter activity.

• Regional jet aviation · 2015

  Avro regional jet operations

  Summit expanded into Avro regional jet operations with an RJ85 acquired in 2015 for services operated on behalf of Canadian North between Yellowknife and Edmonton. The company later added another RJ85 and larger RJ100 aircraft, increasing its ability to support higher-capacity contracted regional services.

• 2015

  Regional jet fleet expansionProduct launch

  Background

  Summit needed larger aircraft capability for contracted regional passenger services.

  Action taken

  It acquired an Avro RJ85 for Canadian North operations, later adding another RJ85 and Avro RJ100 aircraft.

  Aftermath

  Summit broadened its capacity for regional jet services from Yellowknife and Edmonton.

  Source

• 2012

  Acquisition of Arctic Sunwest ChartersM&A

  Background

  Summit Air pursued growth in charter and regional aviation.

  Action taken

  The airline acquired Arctic Sunwest Charters and rebranded the acquired aircraft under the Summit name.

  Aftermath

  The transaction expanded Summit's aircraft and charter presence.

  Source

• 2009

  Ledcor partnershipM&A

  Background

  Summit Air sought to develop its aviation business within a larger corporate framework.

  Action taken

  Ledcor Group of Companies became a partner in Summit Air.

  Aftermath

  Summit Air became part of the Ledcor group of companies and continued operating as a diversified aviation business.

  Source

• 2001

  Relocation of the operating baseStrategy

  Background

  Summit Air began in British Columbia but served an increasingly important northern market.

  Action taken

  The company moved its base of operations to Yellowknife.

  Aftermath

  Yellowknife became the airline's head-office and operating centre for its northern network.

  Source

• 2015

  Summit Air adds Avro RJ85 service for Canadian North[1]Summit Airen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Product generation

  Summit Air acquired an Avro RJ85 for operation on behalf of Canadian North on services from Yellowknife and Edmonton, later ordering another aircraft and adding larger Avro RJ100 jets.

• 2012

  Summit Air acquires Arctic Sunwest Charters[1]Summit Airen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Summit Air acquired Arctic Sunwest Charters, and the acquired aircraft were subsequently rebranded under the Summit Air name.

• 2009

  Ledcor Group becomes a partner in Summit Air[1]Summit Airen.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Other

  Ledcor Group of Companies joined Summit Air as a partner, bringing the airline into the broader Ledcor corporate group.

1. 1Summit Airen.wikipedia.org