New Scheduled Route to Strengthen Regional Connectivity

KENORA, ON — December 4, 2025 — The Kenora Airport Authority (KAA) has announced a new partnership with North Star Air to introduce direct, scheduled passenger flights between Kenora Airport (YQK) and Thunder Bay International Airport (YQT).

On Saturday, a very enthusiastic crowd of just under 100 people came out to the Kenora Airport for an event to welcome North Star Air to Kenora. There was a great deal of enthusiasm for the new service with attendees commenting on how they looked forward to travelling to Thunder Bay by air, especially in the winter, when highways in Northern Ontario can often be treacherous with weather, and road closures.

The new service is aimed at improving regional connectivity for business travel, medical appointments, tourism, and community visits, while strengthening economic links between two of Northwestern Ontario’s key hubs, Thunder Bay and Kenora.

Flight Schedule: Five Days a Week

Service begins Thursday, January 15, 2026, operating five times per week (schedule as provided by KAA/North Star Air):

• Kenora (YQK) → Thunder Bay (YQT): Departs 7:00 a.m. CST, arrives 9:15 a.m. EST — Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri/Sat

• Thunder Bay (YQT) → Kenora (YQK): Departs 6:00 p.m. EST, arrives 6:15 p.m. CST — Sun/Mon/Wed/Thu/Fri

KAA says the route is expected to make it easier for travellers to connect onward through Thunder Bay. In Thunder Bay the North Star Air counter, President and CEO Jeff Stout told the audience will be right beside Air Canada, making for easy transfers to continue on to other destinations.

Fares and Baggage: Three Tiers

The service will offer three fare tiers (taxes/fees not included):

• Saver: $350

• Thrift: $450

• Flex: $750

The Saver plan is quite competitive with other Thunder Bay to Kenora travel options.

Baggage details provided include:

• 1st checked bag included (up to 40 lbs); additional checked bag $25

• Carry-on included (up to 13 lbs)

• Saver/Thrift changes: $50 + fare difference

• Flex: allows 1-hour cancellation notice and complimentary flight changes

Booking and full schedule details will be available through North Star Air.

Aircraft: Pilatus PC-12 to Operate the Route

The Kenora–Thunder Bay flights will initially be operated using a 9-seat Pilatus PC-12.

The Pilatus PC-12 is a pressurized, single-engine turboprop designed for regional versatility, with cabin configurations that can seat up to nine passengers.

Pilatus also highlights the PC-12’s practicality for mixed passenger-and-cargo needs, including a large cargo door and flexible interior configurations.

In terms of reliability, the North Star Air Pilatus departing Thunder Bay International Airport on Saturday was able to take off in what could only be called winter conditions, arriving in Kenora full winter conditions were in effect. The OPP had issued a roads update advising people not to drive on the highways.

Taking off and returning to Thunder Bay was a short one hour flight.

Kenora MPP Greg Rickford Excited over Service

“Fantastic news for Kenora and the region as commercial air service resumes! A big shoutout to the Kenora Airport Authority and North Star Air for working on this partnership.

“Safe, comfortable, affordable and convenient daily service for us to get to Thunder Bay and places beyond. I appreciate that the schedule for travel is designed to optimize outbound travel from Thinder Bay.

“I can’t wait to be one of their first customers when service commences January 15th, 2026.”

About the Kenora Airport Authority

KAA operates Kenora Airport (YQK) as a not-for-profit organization and notes the airport’s role supporting passenger travel, charter, cargo, and general aviation services. Among KAA’s stated facts:

• KAA was founded July 6, 1992 and took over airport operations from Transport Canada in March 1996

• The current terminal opened September 29, 2018

• The airport has a 5,800-foot runway, capable of handling aircraft up to a 737

• Major tenants include MNRF, Ornge, and Mag Aerospace

• Kenora Airport is a Port of Entry (PoE/15) and sees about 10,000 annual movements