Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle

DREAMSCAPES WINTER 2017/2018 46 F ounded as the dream of Russ Bradley in 1946, today, First Air is wholly owned by the 9,000 Inuit of Québec's north, through the Makivik Corporation, and annually transports over 200,000 pas- sengers between 35 northern communities. First Air's legacy is one of service and innovation—such as helping to develop the first airplane "tundra tire," assisting in map- ping and surveying northern regions and contributing more than $40 million annu- ally to regional economies. To mark seven decades of service, First Air unveiled a new brand identity in October 2017. The new brand and livery feature a modern graphic interpretation of the iconic Inukshuk, brings two new planes into the fleet and introduces enhanced premium services—meals, Star- bucks coffee, warm cookies and wine, all at no extra charge—as well as soon-to-be- launched on-board Wi-Fi entertainment. As air travel is vital in connecting the Arctic to southern Canada, First Air's oper- ation has a deep responsibility attached, whether it's transporting food, mail or med- ical passengers, or uniting friends and families. And, while they continue their mission to be the pre-eminent essential service airline to Northern Canada, First Air is furthering its commitment to helping travellers experience the magic of the North. "We want to inspire more tourists to visit this truly exotic destination. The Arctic is a place of wonder and increasingly, tourists from around the world are looking for out- of-the-ordinary travel experiences," said Brock Friesen, President and CEO of First Air. Along with providing memorable vaca- tions to people from around the globe, local economies will in turn be bolstered by serv- icing new tourism ventures. For First Air—and the people of the Arctic—the future is as bright as the northern lights. BY DAVID WEBB Fly the Arctic with FIRST AIR TRAVEL PLANNER For more information on how you can experience the magic of the North with First Air, visit firstair.ca or call 1-800-267-1247. DS First Air, the airline of the North, services our Canadian Arctic communities from Edmonton, Montréal, Ottawa and Winnipeg. Mark Taylor FOR 71 YEARS, FIRST AIR HAS CONNECTED THE ARCTIC—PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES TO CANADA'S MOST REMOTE LOCALES.

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