Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Hawk Air sold to local competitor

Smithers based Central Mountain Air has purchased Hawkair, returning the airline into local hands for the first time in three of years.

In recent years Hawkair had to enter credit protection after an ambitious expansion plan came up against rising fuel and other costs. At that time it was purchased by Alberta based Bar XH and continued to operate as one of the Northwests feeder airlines into Vancouver.

The purchase announcement released today brings the airline into the Central Mountain Air family, CMA is a feeder line for Air Canada Jazz, in its press release outlining the details of the purchase, the immediate future for the airlines operations was outlined.

"Hawkair will continue to operate independently and provide daily scheduled flights to Terrace-Kitimat, Prince Rupert and Smithers to/from Vancouver. Hawkair continues to maintain the same high level of service and guest experience that has made the airline Northwest BC’s most preferred regional air carrier."

In addition to Hawkair, Central Mountain Air also owns and operates Northern Thunderbird Air out of Prince George, with today's announcement it appears to be on the way towards becoming one of the key local air operators in Northern British Columbia.

Interior News-- Hawkair now owned by Central Mountain
CFTK TV 7 News-- Central Mountain Buys HawkAir