Buffalo Airways launching ‘air barge’ to help Sahtu resupply

Buffalo Airways says it will use its new Boeing 737 to operate discounted cargo flights to the Sahtu this summer in a bid to ease concern that resupply barges will be disrupted.

Ordinarily, communities along the Mackenzie River in the Sahtu region rely on barges to bring in fuel, construction materials and other supplies each summer.

Those resupply shipments were disrupted by low water last year and the threat appears worse this summer, given water levels in many of the NWT’s river and lake systems are even lower than 12 months ago.

The NWT government’s barge division has already moved some barges’ departure points from Hay River to Tuktoyaktuk to avoid low water on sections of the Mackenzie River.

Earlier this week, the Sahtu Secretariat expressed concern that the summer barge season may be lost entirely. (The GNWT, approached on Thursday for comment regarding the status of the barge season, had made no statement as of 10:30am on Friday.)

“The Mackenzie River water level is dropping to levels that can no longer support barge
traffic,” the Sahtu Secretariat stated in a news release.

While the Sahtu Secretariat expressed concern that air freight, the only summer alternative to barges, would allow the aviation industry to quote “whatever price it can charge,” Buffalo Airways said on Friday it would operate weekly flights at rates that aim to “bridge the gap between scheduled air cargo rates and those offered by barge shipment providers.”

In a press release, Buffalo said its newly acquired 737 would carry nearly 42,000 lbs from Yellowknife to Norman Wells each Saturday through the summer, subject to demand, with more flights added if necessary.

“Available capacity on Buffalo’s existing twice-weekly cargo flights will then connect cargo from Norman Wells to other Sahtu communities,” the airline stated.

“Buffalo will match published barge rates for ATVs and snow machines, with discounted rates for bulk shipments over 2,000 lbs.”

Dangerous goods like gas, propane, and lithium-ion batteries will be accepted but have to meet aviation regulations for packaging and shipping.

“Additional services like palletizing, freezer and cooler storage, and vehicle shipping will be available subject to applicable surcharges,” Buffalo added.

A complete list of prices is available in a PDF issued by the airline.

“While the Air Barge program won’t solve all the challenges shippers are faced with this year, it is designed to provide the most cost-effective alternative to barge freight for those that can’t wait until the next winter road season to move their cargo,” Buffalo stated.