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Bearskin Airlines

Types of Travelers

Business Travlers

4/5

Good commuter service to small destinations in Central Canada

Family Traveler

2/5

Small aircraft

Backpacker
Adventure Traveler

/5

Good service to adventure destinations in Central Canada.

Student
Budget Traveler

3/5

Good fares to small destinations

Elderly
Disabled Traveler

2/5

Small planes and basic service

Long Term Traveler

2/5

Limited service to two provinces

Novice Traveler

User-friendly commuter airline

/5

User-friendly commuter airline

Introduction

Bearskin Airlines serves small destinations in Ontario and Manitoba, Canada.  It is a regional airline that was founded in the 1960s by a bush pilot.  At first, the airline offered service to remote destinations.  As it grew in the 1970s and 1980s, it added larger destinations to its list of routes, including flights to Winnipeg and Thunder Bay.    In the 2000s, Bearskin began selling off many of its routes to remote destinations and began focusing on larger destinations.

Bearskin operates turboprop aircraft and connects cities in Manitoba and Ontario.  As it does not fly out of these two provinces, it is of little use to international fliers and people flying to Canada’s larger cities.


Ratings

Important Factors 3/5

Average Delay

90%

Cancelled Flights
(average per month)

0%

Customer Satisfaction Rating

3-star airline

Types of Aircraft

Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner

General 3/5

Number of Domestic Flights (Daily)

17

Number of International Flights (Daily)

None

Size of Fleet

14

Major Airports and Destinations Served

Thunder Bay, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal

Location of Hub

Sioux Lookout Airport, Thunder Bay Airport, Greater Sudbury Airport

Countries Served

Canada (Manitoba and Ontario)

Number of Routes
Most Popular Routes

Thunder Bay to Winnipeg

In-Flight 1/5

Which Routes offer Meal Service?

n/a

Food Quality

n/a

In-flight Menu

n/a

Average Leg Room

30

Types of In-flight Entertainment

n/a

Baggage 4/5

Baggage Fees

One bag free

Number of Bags Allowed

One checked, one carry-on

Weight Limits and Restrictions

40 lbs

Web Site 1/5

Online Check-in

No

Web Site Usability

fair

Special Needs 3/5

Handicap Accessibility

good

Pets

$70. Cannot be checked during the winter.

Special Offers /Partners 1/5

Airline Alliance Membership

None

Hotel Partners

None

Competing Airlines

None

Strengths
  • Good service in Manitoba and Ontario
  • Feeder airline for major carriers in Canada
  • Good reputation

Weaknesses
  • Propeller planes only
  • Limited reach

Frequent Flier Program and Airport Lounges

Aeroplan is Bearskin’s frequent flier program. It can help fliers earn rewards that can be spent on a number of airlines. Partners include Air Canada, ANA, Jazz, Asiana and Air China. Bearskin does not operate any passenger lounges.

Conclusion

It is difficult to compare Bearskin with Canada’s major carriers because it provides a different type of service. For people who find themselves in places like Winnipeg or Thunder Bay, Bearskin is the obvious choice. It is one of the larger commuter airlines in Canada and has a decent reputation for service and safety and also allows passengers to earn miles with Aeroplan, one of the biggest rewards programs in Canada.