Harbour Air Seaplanes

Harbour Air Seaplanes is a scheduled floatplane service, tour and charter airline based in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. The predominately seaplane airline specializes in routes between Vancouver, Nanaimo, Victoria, Sechelt, Comox, Whistler and the Gulf Islands, primarily with de Havilland Canada floatplanes. Along with Westcoast Air, Salt Spring Air and Whistler Air, it operates de Havilland Beavers, Otters and Twin Otters.
History.
The airline was established and started operations in 1982 as Windoak Air Service to provide seaplane charter services for the forestry industry in British Columbia. In 1993, Harbour Air purchased Trans-Provincial Airlines, added charter flights to resorts, and increased scheduled services. Today, Harbour Air refers to itself as the "world's largest all-seaplane airline" and became North America's first carbon neutral airline. A small subsidiary, Harbour Air Malta, was set up in June 2007 and a DHC-3 Turbo Otter floatplane is permanently based in Valletta, Malta for scheduled flights to Gozo and sightseeing trips around the islands. "Harbour Air Magazine" is the official in-flight magazine of Harbour Air.
On May 9, 2012 Harbour Air purchased Whistler Air.
In September 2013, Harbour Air launched a land-based charter carrier, Tantalus Air.
In November 2015, Harbour Air purchased Salt Spring Air.
Harbour Air and Kenmore Air started a new seaplane service between Downtown Vancouver, and Downtown Seattle on April 26, 2018
In March 2019, Harbour Air announced a partnership with magniX to electrify the entire Harbour Air fleet over the long term. Harbour Air has noted that its initial electric-powered commercial flights will be on routes of under 30 minutes' duration. The first converted aircraft was a DHC-2 Beaver which serves as the test prototype for the magniX motor, energy storage, and control systems. The prototype flew for the first time on December 10, 2019. The company hopes to have the aircraft certified for commercial use by 2021.
In 2007, Harbour Air became the first airline in North America to achieve complete carbon neutrality in both flight services and corporate operations. Teamed up with Vancouver-based Offsetters, the airline started to include a carbon offset on each ticket used to mitigate the environmental impact of the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG's) associated with the flight. The funds are invested in renewable energy projects.
On February 16, 2010, Deloitte Canada announced that Harbour Air was a winner of a 2009 Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies Award. This national award is sponsored by Deloitte, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, "National Post" and Queen's School of Business.
On March 31, 2010, Harbour Air completed the acquisition of Westcoast Air and consolidated their terminal services.
On May 20, 2011, Harbour Air grounded its service from Victoria Harbour to Langley Regional Airport due to low passenger numbers and fuel price surges.
In November 2015, Salt Spring Air was purchased by the Harbour Air Group. Salt Spring Air's fleet now joins Harbour Air, Westcoast Air and Whistler Air and now claims to be largest seaplane airline in the world.
In March 2019, Harbour Air announced plans to convert an aircraft to run on electricity, which would serve as a test prototype during a two-year duration regulatory approval process, and eventually hopes to convert its entire fleet to electric propulsion. The first plane to be converted is a DHC-2 de Havilland Beaver.
On December 10, 2019, the electric prototype made its first flight over 4 minutes off the Fraser River near Vancouver.
The Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior piston engine of the six-passenger ePlane is replaced by a 750 hp (559 kW), 135 kg (297 lb) magni500, with swappable batteries allowing 30 min flights plus 30 min of reserve power.
Harbour Air wants to convert all its 34 aircraft, including Beavers and PT6-powered Otters and Twin Otters.
Awards and accolades.
Harbour Air has won the following awards:
Destinations.
As of February 2021, Harbour Air serves the following destinations in British Columbia:
Fleet.
As of February 2021, the Harbour Air fleet consisted of 40 aircraft and 42 registered with Transport Canada:
In addition Transport Canada lists a Cessna 185 Skywagon but with a cancelled certificate.
Notes.
AOC number is used for Harbour Air Seaplanes, Whistler Air, Saltspring Air and West Coast Air