Buffalo Airways offers discounted goods as water levels impact barge shipments

A Northwest Territories-based airline is offering discounted rates to transport cargo to Sahtu communities as low water levels impact barge shipments.

On Friday, Buffalo Airways issued a press release announcing that it would launch a “Sahtu Air Barge.”

“While the Air Barge program will not solve all of the challenges shippers face this year, it is designed to provide the most cost-effective alternative to barge freight, for those who cannot wait until the next road season. winter to move their freight,” the statement said.

Sahtu communities rely on barge shipments to deliver goods and fuel during the summer months, as well as by winter road. But last year, some barge shipments were canceled due to low water levels, and with levels on the Mackenzie River extremely low, there is a risk of that happening again this summer.

The territorial government announced last week that all cargo destined for communities north of Norman Wells would be directed to the Tuktoyaktuk terminal due to low water levels south of Fort Good Hope.

Danny Gaudet, head (ekw’ahtı̨dé) of the Délı̨nę Got’ı̨nę government, says he thanks Buffalo Airways for offering this service.

“They know the Sahtu is going to have problems,” he said.

“I always say that it is the companies in the North that will step in in difficult times.”

The Buffalo Airways release quoted 60 cents per pound for general cargo with a minimum shipment of 2,000 pounds from Yellowknife to Norman Wells.

Then, from Norman Wells to Deline and Tulita, it will charge 50 cents per pound and 75 cents per pound for flights from Norman Wells to Colville Lake and Fort Good Hope.

The release states that Buffalo Airways will use its new 737 freighter to fly from Yellowknife to Norman Wells with a capacity of nearly 42,000 pounds per flight.

Air Barge flights will depart on Saturdays throughout the summer, but will be “subject to demand and will continue for as long as necessary.”

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Infrastructure wrote in an email that it appreciated “any existing or new initiatives that help residents get goods delivered to their communities.”

“We understand that current record water levels may create uncertainty and we recommend customers consider all shipping options.”

The spokesperson said Marine Transportation Services, which operates the barges, will continue to monitor water levels and provide updates as they become available.