Buffalo Airways (J0, Yellowknife) took delivery of its first jet aircraft - a B737-300(BDSF) - on August 3, 2023.
2-ESKA (msn 23512) was ferried from maintenance at Bournemouth via Reykjavik Keflavik and Iqaluit to Edmonton International. The 36.9-year-old jet was acquired from European Aviation and was formerly in service with Swiftair (WT, Madrid Barajas) through 2016, the ch-aviation fleets module shows. It will be re-registered as C-FBAE in Canada and based out of Edmonton.
Buffalo Airways initially expected the aircraft to deliver in mid-2022, but the induction was delayed by maintenance and regulatory issues.
General Manager Mikey McBryan told ch-aviation last year the decision to add the B737 was driven by the growing demand for e-commerce cargo between larger airports with paved runways. Buffalo Airways has thus far specialised in "paved-to-gravel" operations, serving remote communities in northern Canada reliant on air cargo.
The B737 is an incremental aircraft for Buffalo Airways and will not be replacing any of its turboprops. The Canadian carrier's fleet comprises Lockheed Electra(F)s, C-46s, DC-3s, Beech (twin turboprop) King Air 90/100s, Beech (twin piston) Barons, Turbo Commanders, a Cessna (single turboprop) 310, Canadair CL-215s, and AT802s.
