SkyLink Express
{{Short description|Canadian cargo airline}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=November 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline = SkyLink Express
| logo = SkyLink_Express_logo.jpg
| logo_size =
| destinations = North America
| IATA =
| ICAO = SLQ{{CanICAOD|SkyLink Express|SLQ|SKYLINK|7|2023-02-26}}
| parent =
| company_slogan =
| founded = {{start date and age|1994}}
| headquarters = Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
| hubs = {{plainlist|
| secondary_hubs =
| focus_cities =
| frequent_flyer =
| lounge =
| alliance =
| website = [http://www.skylinkexpress.com SkyLink Express]
}}
SkyLink Express is a cargo airline headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.{{cite web|url=http://www.skylinkexpress.com/contact.html |title=Contact Us|access-date=14 November 2022}} It operates dedicated air cargo / courier feeder flights throughout Canada and the United States and provides on demand air cargo charters from its bases in Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Hamilton and Montréal-Mirabel.
History
The airline was established in February 1994 as QuikAire Cargo Inc.{{cite web |url = http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=8105058 |title = Skylink Express |publisher = Bloomberg Businessweek |access-date = 20 October 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709071646/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=8105058 |archive-date=9 July 2012 }} by Dan Rocheleau, founder and president of the airline, started the airline using the Cessna 208 Caravan to meet a specialized demand in the Canadian short-haul air cargo market, but now only uses Beechcraft 1900 aircraft.
In April 1996, QuikAire Cargo Inc. formed a partnership with SkyLink Group of Companies and rebranded itself as SkyLink Express Inc. The new relationship fostered the next stage of growth for the airline as it acquired courier feeder contracts across Canada.{{Cite web |title=About {{!}} SkyLink Express |url=https://www.skylinkexpress.com/about.html |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=www.skylinkexpress.com}} In 1996, SkyLink Express also became the first carrier in Canada to operate Raytheon factory-converted, all-cargo, Beechcraft 1900 aircraft. Today, the airline operates the largest Beechcraft 1900C fleet in Canada and second largest in North America.{{cite web|url=http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/AcftRef_Results.aspx?Mfrtxt=&Modeltxt=1900C&PageNo=1|title=FAA Registry - Aircraft - Make / Model Inquiry|website=Registry.faa.gov|access-date=5 August 2018}}
In July 2009, SkyLink Express entered into a partnership with Cargojet to combine SkyLink Express operational assets and routes with a Cargojet subsidiary, Prince Edward Air, to consolidate regional air cargo operations into Cargojet Regional Partnership.{{cite web |url=http://www.aviation.ca/content/view/7620/117/ |title=Aviation.ca - Your Number One Source for Canadian Aviation News, Jobs and Information! - Cargojet Enters into a Partnership with SkyLink Express to extend its Regional Brand |access-date=9 April 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120719181838/http://www.aviation.ca/content/view/7620/117/ |archive-date=19 July 2012}}{{Cite web | url=http://www.payloadasia.com/article/americas-cargojet-skylink-cargojet-regional/4109 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910115134/http://www.payloadasia.com/article/americas-cargojet-skylink-cargojet-regional/4109 | archive-date=10 September 2012| title=AMERICAS: Cargojet + SkyLink = Cargojet Regional | Payload Asia}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.shippingonline.cn/news/newsContent.asp?id=10627 |title=Canada's Cargojet buys all Prince Edward Air for US$898,109 - Shipping News - Shipping Online |access-date=9 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304041903/http://www.shippingonline.cn/news/newsContent.asp?id=10627 |archive-date=4 March 2016}}
In July 2010, SkyLink Express purchased 100% of Cargojet Regional Partnership from Cargojet.{{cite web|url=http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/563811/skylink-expands-regional-air-cargo-operations|title=SkyLink expands regional air cargo operations|website=Newswire.ca|access-date=5 August 2018}}
In 2013, SkyLink Express expanded into Western Canada as new flight crew / maintenance bases were launched in Vancouver (August 2013) {{cite web|url=http://www.skylinkexpress.com/news/2013/07/31/bc-success-for-skylink-express|title=BC Success for Skylink Express!|website=Skylinkexpress.com|access-date=5 August 2018}} and Winnipeg (September 2013).{{Cite web | url=http://www.linkedin.com/company/skylink-express-inc- | archive-url=https://archive.today/20131222065750/http://www.linkedin.com/company/skylink-express-inc- | archive-date=22 December 2013|title = SkyLink Express Inc. | LinkedIn}}
Past and present courier/cargo feeder operations include United Parcel Service (UPS), FedEx, DHL Express, Altimax, Canada Post, Cargojet, Dynamex, Midland Courier, Purolator Inc. and Sameday Worldwide.
In March 2024, Skylink Express filed under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act to restructure their businesses and financial affairs.{{cite web|url=https://insolvencyinsider.ca/p/skylink-express-inc-ccaa |title=Skylink Express Inc., CCAA |access-date=25 November 2024 |date=18 March 2024}}
Facilities
Fleet
The SkyLink Express fleet consists of the following aircraft (as of November 2024):{{TCregister|SKYLINK+EXPRESS|SkyLink Express|25 November 2024}}{{cite web|url=http://www.skylinkexpress.com/fleet.html |title=Ratheon Beechcraft 1900C Freighter|access-date=25 November 2024}}
| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left"
|+ SkyLink Express fleet | |||
| Aircraft || In service || Variants || Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Beechcraft 1900 | align=center|12 | {{nowrap|10 - 1900C, 2 - 1900D}} | Payload {{cvt|5500|lb}}, the 1900D is not listed by SkyLink Express |
| {{nowrap|Cessna 208 Caravan}} | align=center|{{abbr|n/a|not available}} | 208B Grand Caravan | Payload {{convert|3300|lb}}, listed as Cessna Grand Caravan / Super Cargomaster 208B Freighter by SkyLink Express but not registered with Transport Canada |
| Total
!align=center|12 !colspan="2"| |
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.skylinkexpress.com SkyLink Express]
{{Portal bar|Canada|Companies|Aviation}}
{{Airlines of Canada}}
Category:Regional airlines of Ontario