End of an era!

Yellowknife (NT) based Canadian North will retire its two remaining B737-200(C)s early 2022, being B737-2T2C C-GDPA (msn 22056) and B737-275C C-GOPW (msn 22160). They will be replaced by other types, including at least one ATR42-500.

The reason for the retirement is the requirement that a lot of money is needed to keep them airworthy. Canadian North will instead invest those funds into new aircraft acquisitions to support their network, including the Kitikmeot Region.

The airline's B737-200s are 41.1 and 40.8 years old and were both acquired from Air Canada in 2001. Canadian North planned to retire the first one in May 2021 and the second by early 2022.

The B737-200(C)s are in a combi configuration and can carry up to 112 passengers in an all-economy layout, or up to six pallets of cargo, or any mix of passengers and cargo. They can operate from gravel runways, an important consideration for the replacement type.