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![]() A Piper PA-31 Navajo of Island Express Air | |||||||
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Founded | 2009 | ||||||
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Ceased operations | 2020 | ||||||
AOC # | 19080 [2] | ||||||
Hubs | Abbotsford International Airport | ||||||
Focus cities | Victoria, Nanaimo | ||||||
Fleet size | 11 [3] | ||||||
Destinations | 6 [4] | ||||||
Parent company | Shorebird Enterprises | ||||||
Headquarters | Abbotsford, British Columbia | ||||||
Key people | Jim Young | ||||||
Website | www |
Island Express Air was a small Canadian airline based in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Its first flight was on August 7, 2009, as part of the Abbotsford International Airshow. [5] It operated scheduled air service between the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, as well as charter flights and cargo service. On February 23, 2018, one of their B100 King Air's crashed at Abbotsford Airport (CYXX) immediately after take-off in blizzard conditions. [6] As a result of this accident, and due to public safety concerns, Transport Canada suspended Island Express' Air Operator's Certificate(AOC) shortly thereafter, on February 28, 2018. [7] However, following a robust review of the company's safety procedures the operating certificate was reinstated on June 26, 2018. [8] The company slogan was Your Island Connection.
In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Island Express Air ceased operations and sold its assets to a group of investors. [9]
All destinations as of August 2019 were within British Columbia: [4]
Fleet as of August 2019: [3]
Aircraft | No. of aircraft | Variants | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Beechcraft King Air | 1 | 100 series | |
Piper PA-28 Cherokee | 1 | PA-28-151 Cherokee Warrior | |
Piper PA-31 Navajo | 6 | PA-31-325 Navajo, PA-31-350 Chieftain | |
Piper PA-32 | 1 | PA-32-301 Saratoga |
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Island Express Air: IAX, ABBOTSFORD AIR